Examples of local govt Voice endorsement
September 21, 2023
Examples of local govt Voice endorsement by Victorian councils which have a Yarra River border.
City of Melbourne motion from Lord Mayor Sally Capp on March 21 2023 this year which read as follows:
That the Future Melbourne Committee:
1.1. Re-affirms the City of Melbourne's commitment to truth-telling, reconciliation and governing with
Aboriginal people, as embodied in its ‘Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-23', its 2021
‘Declaration of Recognition and Commitment' and Major Initiatives 23, 24 and 25 of its Council
Plan;
1.2. Recognises that Australia has formally endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, which includes the collective right to self-determination;
1.3. Notes the Commonwealth Government's commitment to; the Uluru Statement from the Heart in
full, including Voice, Treaty and Truth, and to a referendum on enshrining a Voice for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution;
1.4. Acknowledges that there is a diversity of opinions inside and outside Aboriginal communities, in
Melbourne and across the country, on the significance and timing of the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Voice to Parliament;
1.5. Affirms the City of Melbourne's support for the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the ‘yes'
campaign for the Constitutional Recognition of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to
Parliament;
1.6. Commits to a program that promotes community engagement and informed debate on the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, including but not limited to; sharing of
information through public meetings and opportunities for discussion, resources, speeches, social
media and other communications;
1.7. Requests that in putting together this program, management seek feedback on proposed activities
as part of their regular discussions with Traditional Owner and Aboriginal community organisations.
As the minutes show, it was unanimously passed by the 7 Crs in the room, although there were 4 apologies on the night from Cr Roshena Campbell, Cr Philip Le Lui, Cr Chang and Cr Kevin Louey. The audio from the Meat Market meeting didn't capture the debate on this item.
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Shire of Yarra Ranges press release on June 28, 2023 after councillors voted in favour. Debate starts 123 minutes into this webcast and ran for 35 minutes. Mayor Jim Childs tried to put up an alternative changing "supports" to "acknowledges" but only had Cr support from Cr Higgins.It passed 5-2 after a division.
The endorsed words were as follows:
Moved: Cr Todorov
Seconded: Cr Fullagar
That Council
1. Supports the notion behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a Voice to Parliament.
2. Acknowledges that it is not Council's role to tell people how to vote in the upcoming referendum. Council encourages the community to be informed and seek information from reputable channels.
Shire of Nillumbik
See press release after endorsement at July 27 council meeting. Debated started 33 minutes into this webcast and debate lasted 16 minutes. See minutes of the meeting. The wording was as follows:
| MOVED: Cr Natalie Duffy SECONDED: Cr Frances Eyre That Council: 1. Adopts an organisational stance to support, in principle, the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament: a) In doing so, Council recognises and acknowledges that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is a complex socio-political issue, with differences of opinion existing even amongst First Nations communities and individuals. b) Furthermore, Council recognises and acknowledges that adopting an organisational stance to support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is a reflection of the collective opinion of Councillors, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of individual Councillors, Council officers, volunteers or affiliates. 2. Recognising the complex socio-political nature of this issue, acts as an objective source of information regarding the referendum in providing education and resources to the broader Nillumbik community. CARRIED |
For: Crs Natalie Duffy, Frances Eyre, Geoff Paine, Peter Perkins and Ben Ramcharan
Against: Crs Karen Egan and Richard Stockman
City of Banyule
Debate starts 23 minutes into a 3 hour meeting and ran for 14 minutes before a unanimous yes vote.
From the minutes of December 5, 2022 council meeting:
3.1 ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART
Sue Harris from Reconciliation Banyule addressed Council in person and was FOR the recommendation.
Uncle Charles Pakana from Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place addressed Council in person and was FOR the recommendation.
SUMMARY 1. On Friday 26th May 2017, Delegates of the National Constitutional Convention released the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart' (Attachment 1); and in 2022, the Albanese Labor Government confirmed commitment to implement the Uluru Statement in full.
2. The Uluru Statement calls for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament, along with the establishment of a Makarrata Commission, to undertake processes of treaty-making and truth-telling.
3. In September 2022, Reconciliation Australia requested all organisations who have endorsed Reconciliation Action Plan's to identify their current commitment (or not) to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and Voice to Parliament.
4. The Uluru Statement aligns with Council's identified vision for reconciliation under the current Innovate RAP 2020-2022.
5. Council has an opportunity to recognise the need for and support of constitutional change by committing to the Uluru Statement in full (Voice, Treaty and Truth-telling); and taking the recommended practical action to walk together for a better future and a reconciled Australia. Resolution (CO2022/207)
That Council:
1. Adopt the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart' in full and take practical action for a better future and reconciled Australia including a commitment to:
a. Registering Council's support for the Uluru Statement on the official Uluru Dialogue website (UluruStatement.org).
b. Displaying the Uluru Statement logo on Council's website and email signature.
c. Showing support by placing a framed copy of the Uluru Statement within the Council's public honorary cabinets within the Council Chambers.
d. Continuing to work in partnership with the Banyule Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Committee and First Nations community to develop and deliver a community engagement and communications plan.
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