CLA’s Position on the Voice to Parliament
CLA’s Position on the Voice to Parliament
CLA Inc. supports voting ‘yes’ in the 2023 referendum. We support the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution through a Voice to Parliament. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and it’s recommendations of Voice, Treaty, Truth. While we support voting ‘yes’, every person has a right to decide how they will vote. The support that people receive from CLA Inc. will not change whether the person votes ‘yes’ or the person votes ‘no’.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have a say in all decisions that impact them. They have been denied this for a very long time.
We know that some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not believe a Voice enshrined in the Constitution will deliver the change they are hoping for and will vote ‘no’. CLA Inc. respects that every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person will decide what feels right for them.
We want the Voice to be a beginning, not an end to the work to heal this country. We witness the ongoing impact of colonisation in our work. We hope to see further actions, such as Treaty, truth telling and changes that place power back in the hands of First Nations people.
No matter what happens in the referendum, CLA Inc. stands against racism. We hope this focus on justice and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues.
CLA Inc. thanks WWILD for the permission to use this statement.
