Statement of Support for the Voice
Image Credit: Uluru Statement from the Heart
Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) proudly expresses our support for the Yes vote in the upcoming First Nations Voice to Parliament Referendum.
We believe that acknowledging and empowering the voices of Australia's First Nations people is a crucial step towards genuine reconciliation, justice, and unity.
MAV celebrates the extraordinary cultural richness and diversity of Australia. Our organisation values the contributions of all communities, including the First Nations people, in shaping our nation's identity. We firmly believe that a First Nations Voice to Parliament is an essential mechanism to ensure their voices are heard, respected, and valued at the highest level of decision-making.
By establishing a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, we can address the historical injustices that Indigenous communities have faced and continue to face in our society. This is an opportunity to rectify the exclusion and marginalisation experienced by First Nations people, and to move towards a future of true equality and inclusion.
The First Nations Voice to Parliament aligns with our organisation's commitment to multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice. We believe that a strong, unified, and inclusive Australia can only be achieved by giving First Nations people a prominent and empowered voice within our democratic processes.
Recognising our First People in the Constitution is crucial, as is the need for Treaty and Truth-telling about this country’s colonial history and its ongoing effects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today.
We urge all Australians to join us in voting Yes in the First Nations Voice to Parliament Referendum. Let us stand together in acknowledging the past, rectifying historical injustices, and build a future that values and respects the rights, culture, and aspirations of Australia's First Nations people.
— Board members of Multicultural Arts Victoria
