Shane Rattenbury MLA is leader of the ACT Greens, Attorney-General, and ACT Minister for Consumer Affairs, for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, and for Gaming. The ACT Greens support the Voice to Parliament. Mr Rattenbury explains why.
On October 14, we have a chance to create change. This is an important point in our history and a real opportunity to work towards justice for First Nations people.
I acknowledge there are a diversity of opinions out there, but for me it’s clear that there is a need for change, so I’ll be voting yes.
For too long, First Nations Australians have not had enough say in the decision making that affects their lives. I believe it’s time to change that.
Enshrining a First Nations Voice to Parliament in the constitution is an important step in the ongoing process of facing the truth of our history and finding ways to move beyond the injustice and dispossession that has been a feature of the last two centuries.
I am, however, keenly aware that a Voice to Parliament in itself will not be enough. We can’t stop at the Voice and say we have achieved justice. We need to go further, and we need to listen to First Nations Australians about what those next steps on this journey should be.
The cultural and physical violence inflicted on First Nations people, and the forceful taking of their land, is a deep injustice that has not yet been addressed. The consequences of this trauma are ongoing, with First Nations peoples continuing to experience unacceptable rates of poverty, incarceration, child removal, and poor health outcomes.
To respond to this injustice, the Uluru Statement from the Heart emphasises the need for re-shaping our relationships and being truthful about our history, alongside implementing major constitutional and structural reforms. The Statement calls for a process of agreement-making (working towards a treaty) and of truth-telling about our history. It invites non-Indigenous and First Nations Australians to come together to deal with our past and forge a new path together.
Establishing a Voice to Parliament provides an opportunity to further the important conversation of how we can transform our story and heal the deep suffering at the heart of our nation’s history. But establishing a Voice is the beginning of the discussion rather than the end, and we must also prioritise work towards truth-telling and treaty. These goals cannot be forgotten or compromised because they are more challenging.
It’s time to change. It’s time to accept the generosity of First Nations people in being willing to work together. It’s time to acknowledge the devastating and inter-generational impact of a nation built on the lie of Terra nullius, on the dispossession and denial of human rights for those who were here first. Truth telling means we will hear truths that are difficult to hear, and we will need to respond to these difficult truths. It’s time to be brave, and to embark on a journey that can help our nation heal from the darkest chapters of our history.
Establishing a Voice to Parliament will mark an important moment in this journey, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to vote in support of this change.
