DAN REPACHOLI MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HUNTER

Some Facts On Why You Should Vote YES On October 14

On the 14^th of October you have the chance to make an important decision about our country's future. It's all about whether we should have a Voice to Parliament in Australia.

So what is the Voice to Parliament?  It’s a question that I get when I am out and about talking to people around the Hunter.

The "Voice to Parliament" refers to the proposal for an advisory body that would give Indigenous Australians a platform to provide input and advice on matters of policy and legislation that affect them.

So who is going to be on the Voice to Parliament?

The Voice would be a national group of about 20 members who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  This body would be a balanced mix of genders, and include a Youth and Disability Advisory Group.

It will be chosen by First Nations people based on the wishes of local communities and it will be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

What will the Voice to Parliament do?

The Voice would give advice to Parliament on matters that are important to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.

The group would be an unflinching source of advice and accountability, it will not be a third chamber of Parliament, it will not have the power of veto, it will not control any finances or run any programs. 

It is simply an advisory body to tell the Government and the Parliament the truth about what is working and what is not.

What that means is the group would have input, but elected members of Parliament would be the ones accountable to make any changes – and there's no requirement for the Government to actually listen to what the Voice says.

What areas would the Voice be able to advise Government on?

The Voice would provide advice about issues affecting Indigenous peoples and communities.  The 4 main priority areas will be health, education, jobs and housing.

That's fairly wide-ranging, but there would not be any compulsion on the Government to listen to the advice if it didn't think it was relevant.

Will this mean that we will have to pay rent on our land and taxes to use the parks and beaches?

No, you will not.  This is simply just rubbish and a scare campaign by those opposed to the Voice.  Over the coming 6 weeks there will be plenty of mistruths and disinformation being spread, so it is important that you seek answers from reliable sources if you do have any questions.

I believe that voting YES in this referendum is a great idea, and here's why:

Voting Yes is a simple but powerful act we can all do to help close the gap in health, in housing, in education, in every area where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders don't enjoy the same quality of life as every other Australian.

There is nothing “risky” about this proposal. If we vote yes, Australians – and particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians – will be better off.

We know that when Governments listen to people, we get better outcomes and use funding more effectively.

That is what the Voice is about – listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so we get better outcomes.

There is an eight-year gap in life expectancy.

The suicide rate for Indigenous Australians is twice that of non-Indigenous Australians.

Rates of disease and infant mortality are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The gap remains stubbornly wide. We can’t accept that this is the best we can do.

If we vote YES to the Voice, we can make a difference.

The Voice can do no harm – only good for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and for the country more broadly.