Thread by @MorganScribbler

🧵 1/- Starting new thread on The Voice (to Australian parliament).

Aim is to distil information to make it easier for people to access here.

Hope to provide a good balance between simplification and finer details (Yes, there are plenty.)

So here we go...

#TheVoice
#auspol

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The Voice to parliament comes from the Uluru Statement of the Heart.

In May 2017, over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Delegates from all points of the Southern Sky gathered in Mutitjulu in the shadow of Uluru and put their signatures on a historic statement...

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The Uluru Statement From The Heart addressed to the Australian people invited the nation to create a better future via the proposal of key reforms…

4/- You can read the full "Uluru Statement From The Heart" here:

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The Voice and Makarrata (Yolgnu word meaning ‘a coming together after a struggle’)

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What is a First Nations Voice to Parliament?

A First Nations Voice to Parliament is the first reform called for in the Uluru Statement. This is a Constitutionally-enshrined body of First Nations with a direct line to Federal Parliament...

7/- ... able to influence laws and policies that affect First Nations communities first-hand – at the point they originate. A constitutional Voice is both symbolic and substantive recognition.

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It is important to make a note here (due to misconceptions and misinformation) that:

- The Voice is not a "third chamber."

- The Voice will not have a program delivery function.

- The Voice will not have veto power.

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How will a Voice to Parliament help First Nations and communities?

A Voice will mean the Government will have better quality information about First Nations communities and issues, delivered directly by a body of First Nations representatives.

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Detailed and nuanced information from communities themselves will result in better quality laws and policies. This will mean resource allocation is more accurately targeted.

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Better laws mean improved outcomes - across all metrics, including health, housing, criminal justice & education.

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What shape would a Voice to Parliament actually take?

The concept of a Voice will be enshrined in the Constitution; the shape it takes will be created through consultation with all stakeholders. (Don't worry, there's plenty of finer details on the model in this thread 👇)

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The Voice will be a mechanism drawn from First Nations communities who will be able to influence laws and policies that affect these communities. The practical details of a Voice to Parliament will continue to be worked through as we approach a referendum.

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The model of the Voice has been developed since 2017 over three key processes, which have involved Indigenous-run dialogues, a parliamentary inquiry, and a government-led consultation...

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Development of The Voice model:

2017 - 12 Regional Dialogues and First Nations Constitutional Convention that delivered the Uluru Statement of the Heart

2018 - Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples

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Development of The Voice model cont.

2019-2021 Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process run by National Indigenous Australians Agency.

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Drawn from this process are:

1. A set of design principles for the formation and operation of the Voice

2. A process to follow a successful referendum that learns from best-practice engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people & draws on these principles

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The proposed way forward, using principles and process, is more desirable than setting out a full, detailed model of the Voice prior to a referendum.

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As a matter of constitutional principle, there is a danger that providing a full, detailed model of the Voice prior to a referendum entrenches this model, making future parliaments reluctant to amend the model that accompanied the referendum...

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This undermines one of the objectives of the constitutional amendment – to provide flexibility and evolution in the detail of the model.

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The Regional Dialogues & First Nations Constitutional Convention, the 2018 Joint Select Committee, and the Indigenous Voice Co-Design process have placed important information into the public domain about what a Voice would look like...

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Distilled from those processes are the following principles for design of the Voice:

1. The intention of the Voice is to further self-determination of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people within Australian by giving them greater say in matters that affect them.

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2. The Voice is primarily a Voice to Parliament, informing the ultimate national law-making authority, but it must also be engaged with government in the development of policies and legislative proposals.

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3. The Voice must have a structure that represents and reflects local communities in their diversity, giving those a voice who have not had a voice in the past.

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4. The Voice must have cultural legitimacy, in that it must be selected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples themselves in accordance with their own local practices, protocols and expectations.

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5. the Voice should be designed in a way that it can achieve its functions, in particular that it is:

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You can download resources on the Voice here:

voice.niaa.gov.au/resources

Including:
- past processes and reports.
- details for current working groups.
- Prime Ministers proposed draft referendum questions and constitutional amendments.

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There are more educational resources here with videos on the voice, history, past webinars inc. analysis of the Uluru statements including The Voice by law experts and indigenous perspectives etc.

ulurustatemdev.wpengine.com/education/reso…

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principles for design of the Voice cont.

@threadreaderapp unroll please 🙏