Thursday, 31 August 2023

Ministers statements: Voice to Parliament

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:31): On 14 October Victorians and Australians will get an opportunity to recognise the oldest continuous culture known to human history in our national constitution. We will also get a unique opportunity to listen to Aboriginal people so that we can get better outcomes for Aboriginal people – but not just Aboriginal people, because if we can achieve better outcomes for First Nations Australians, every single Australian will benefit from that. Every single Victorian will benefit from that. Whether it is in health, in education, in child protection, in so many areas, the evidence is clear: at a state level and to a certain extent at a national level, when you listen and engage with Aboriginal people and allow them to set the agenda for their own kids, their businesses, their opportunities and their education to change lives and to save lives, you get better outcomes.

Our government is united and absolutely clear in our support for a yes vote, and whilst I have not at any point – nor will I – told people how they ought to vote, I simply share with the house and all Victorians that I will be voting yes, because I believe you get better outcomes when you listen to Aboriginal people and I believe that the old way is not working. Billions of dollars are being spent every year to see our Closing the Gap metrics get worse, not better. The old way needs to be replaced with something different, something better. Listen, recognise, act, be clear and then work really hard with Aboriginal people to deliver those better outcomes.

I was honoured at national cabinet to sign on to a statement of intent with other first ministers – first ministers not just from the Labor Party. My good friend the then Liberal Premier of New South Wales Dominic Perrottet signed up to that statement. Another person of integrity and character, Premier Jeremy Rockliff from Tasmania, signed up to that statement of intent. I would urge all leaders of political parties in this house to sign up to this. I can only urge them, because yes is the way we need to go.