Thursday, 4 August 2022
Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.
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Garma Festival poses the question BY christine howeS Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took the opportunity to reaffirm his promise to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full at the Yolgnu’s Garma Festival last weekend. In a major speech to the gathering, Mr Albanese proposed enshrining a Voice in the Constitution by proposing a referendum question to be put to the people of Australia. “I would like us to present the Australian people with the clearest possible referendum question,” he said. “We should consider asking our fellow Australians something as simple, but something as clear, as this: Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?” He said it was a straightforward proposition, a simple principle and “a question from the heart”. “We can use this question – and the provisions – as the basis for further consultation,” he said. “Not as a final decision but as the basis for dialogue, something to give the conversation shape and form.” Mr Albanese later told media there would
be debate in Parliament and in the community about the details of the Voice and what it will look like. “The key question here is ‘do people want an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice enshrined in the Constitution?’ he said. “…I think there’s momentum from the Australian people to give support to that. “It’s about giving people who haven’t had that sense of power over their own lives, in controlling their own destiny, a greater say, a voice. “But it’s also about uplifting our entire nation, not just in ourselves, I think Australians who travel know that this is an issue in the way that Australia is seen as well. “This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our maturity as a nation, to uplift our whole nation.” Mr Albanese told the Garma Festival he was optimistic. “I am optimistic that this historic decision, this long-overdue embrace of truth and justice and decency and respect for First Nations people will be voted into law by the people of Australia,” he said. “The voice of the Australian people will create a Voice to Parliament. “All Australians have the chance to own this change, to be proud of it, to be counted and heard on the right side of history.”
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OUR GARMA VOICE: As Badhu dancers represented the Torres Strait at one of Australia’s premier First Nations events – the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land in the NT – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was
waiting in the wings to make an announcement on progressing the Uluru Statement. Main pic by James Morgan. Dance pics by Leitha Assan.