Media Releases

2 February 2023

STATEMENT

MY SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION AND THE VOICE TO PARLIAMENT

First and foremost, I am a strong supporter of all policies to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Despite good intentions, successive policies and governments have failed to meaningfully close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on key indicators.

Accordingly, it’s time to do things differently. I accept the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and support Constitutional recognition for First Nations Australians. When the Constitution was drafted in 1901, First Nations people were not recognised as citizens of Australia and not included or consulted. The proposed Voice to Parliament would be the first instance of Indigenous Constitutional recognition in Australia.

With the Referendum likely to be held in the second half of 2023, I will be engaging with the Warringah community in the following months through a series of forums and street meets to listen to constituent views and concerns and provide information on key aspects of the Referendum process and proposal.

Referendums are complex. To succeed, a referendum must achieve a double majority for the proposed law to pass; it must be approved by a majority of voters nationwide, and a majority of voters in a majority of Australia’s six states (4 out of 6 States). 

I will at all times represent the views of Warringah. The people of Warringah elected me on a platform that included supporting the Voice and supporting policies that will help to close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In the event Warringah votes in support of the Voice but the Referendum does not succeed at the national level, I would work with Government on alternate proposals, including legislative reform, to ensure Government consults with Indigenous Australians on policies that impact them.