Lifeblood statement regarding Voice to Parliament
We come together with the Australian Red Cross to formally acknowledge our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the three elements it collectively calls for:
- a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution,
- a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement making, and
- a national process of truth telling between Indigenous peoples and the Australian government.
We believe that this is an important issue for the future of our country, and that it also offers a way forward, to bring true meaning to those very first words in the Australian National anthem “….all let us rejoice for we are one and free".
To be truly “one and free” we must care deeply about all people having a voice, we must care deeply about righting the wrongs of the past, and we must care deeply about creating a future which is inclusive and equitable.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart matters because it has been developed by the largest consensus of First Nation peoples ever and it outlines the importance of their recognition in Australian History.
The referendum will ask people to determine whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are able to provide advice to the Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives.
At Lifeblood, we aspire to walk alongside First Nations peoples and the Uluru Statement guides us, and all the people of Australia, on the path forward as determined by First Nations peoples themselves.
