Shelter WA votes Yes
Kaya,
In just a few days, Australians will have the chance to shape history – to listen to Indigenous Australians, recognise their history and culture, and protect their voices for in Australia’s constitution.
In our sector, with the work we do, the people we serve, and the purpose we all share – we simply cannot sit on the fence. If we are genuine about supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people to live their best lives, then we have to support a Voice to Parliament.
Hon. Patrick Gorman MP, Member for Perth with a door-knocking group in Tuart Hill.
What is the Voice?
The Voice is a practical way to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution. It will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who give advice to the government on issues affecting their community.
The Voice to Parliament is essentially about four key things:
- Recognising 65,000 years of Indigenous culture in Australia’s 122-year-old constitution.
- Listening and learning through the Voice – a diverse group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who can provide unique perspectives to Parliament on matters that affect their community.
- Protecting the Voice in the Constitution so that it can’t easily be dismantled by changing governments.
- Agreeing that the current approach isn’t working; we need to do something different to change the status quo. Indigenous Australians should have a real say over the issues affecting their communities.
Where did the idea come from?
Indigenous Australians have been advocating for decades to have a voice in the unique issues affecting their communities. In 2017, hundreds of community-elected Indigenous representatives came together and collectively asked to be recognised in the Constitution through a Voice. More than 80 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support the Voice to Parliament.
“Aboriginal people are marginalised by housing markets”
Shelter WA Position
- Shelter WA supports the Voice to Parliament to advance the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- The importance of place has always been a source of strength for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, however all the statistics show that Aboriginal people are marginalised by housing markets are over-represented among the homeless population and are more likely than other Australians to have unmet housing needs.
- Shelter WA’s vision is for all Aboriginal people to have access to a safe, affordable and appropriate home that enables them to thrive. We believe that the principle of self-determination must underpin the delivery of housing and homelessness services for Aboriginal people making the Voice to Parliament essential.
- Shelter WA are privileged to work alongside the Aboriginal community housing and homelessness sectors, and much of our work is guided by their cultural knowledge, and lived experience. We currently have two projects working to support Aboriginal people.
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