4 August 2022
Today, August 4, is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – a day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to celebrate the strength and culture of First Nations children.
This Children’s Day, First Nations children are being asked what Dreaming means to them, learning how they interpret this in their lives and identity, and hearing what their aspirations are for the future.
It comes at a time when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to pushing for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
"We will, of course, be advancing the need to have constitutional recognition of First Nations people, including a Voice to Parliament that is enshrined in that constitution," he said shortly after being elected in May.
Last Saturday, Mr Albanese unveiled a draft referendum question, as well as three sentences to add to the constitution.
The draft referendum question is:
"Do you support an alteration to the constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?"
His three sentences:
- There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
- The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The purpose of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is to ensure input from First Nations peoples at the highest level of government so that they have a voice over the laws governing their country and people.
An Indigenous Voice to Parliament was first put forward as part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the latter written after a historic meeting of 250 Indigenous delegates at the First Nations National Constitutional Convention in 2017.
To quote from the Uluru Statement of the Heart: “We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish.
They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country."
Dale Agius, a Kaurna, Narungga, Ngadjuri and Ngarrindjeri man who has worked at senior levels across government, will start as the South Australia’s first Commissioner for First Nations Voice this month to help lead the State Government’s consultation with Aboriginal groups and lay the foundations for state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The Malinauskas Government has pledged to introduce a Voice to Parliament as early as next year.
The ANMF (SA Branch) is a strong advocate for Indigenous health equity and has made a commitment to work to address health inequalities experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our recently endorsed Reconciliation Action Plan acts on that commitment and helps us to focus on keeping the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the national agenda.
Members can view our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through our ANMF (SA Branch) Reconciliation Action Plan journey which is now available on our website. Click here to view progress.
Please see the ANMF (SA Branch) Health Policy Position Statement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health here (Page 7)
For more about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day go to https://www.aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/