The Uluru Statement from the Heart Needs Your Support

By Tarlee Leondaris

Posted Apr 27, 2021 in News

The Uluru Statement from the Heart (Uluru Statement) is a result of the First Nations National Constitutional Convention comprising 250 First Peoples representatives from across Australia. The Uluru Statement is representative of a historic consensus of First Peoples seeking constitutional change. Resulting from the First Nations National Constitutional Convention, the Uluru Statement was issued to the Australian public on the 26^th of May 2017 as a roadmap for First and Second Peoples to journey together for a better future.

Since 1994, the Uniting Church in Australia proudly shares a covenantal relationship with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC). The Covenant remains an on-going reminder of our Christian conviction to carry out faithfully Christ's command to love one another and to order our life in the church in truth and justice. The Uluru Statement is truly an invitation to all Australians to contribute to re-imagining this nation in truth and justice. Especially, to us as Christians to stand in solidarity with First Peoples on the journey to voice, treaty and truth.

The government is running a co-design process to decide what an Indigenous Voice to all levels of government will look like. It is currently in a public consultation process that is open for everyone to contribute. Those who support the Uluru Statement and a Voice to Parliament protected in the Australian Constitution are encouraged to make a submission to the co-design process in response to the Indigenous Voice Discussion Paper. This co-design process is a significant opportunity to advocate for an enshrined Voice following the release of the Interim Voice Report on the co-design of a First Nations Voice.

To date, the Uniting Church Synod of South Australia, Uniting Church in Australia and Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress have all made submissions. These are available to read on the Indigenous Voice public submissions page here.

Uniting Church Synod of South Australia congregations and members that support the Uluru Statement are encouraged to make a submission. Submissions are encouraged to be written from a personal perspective but should include the following three points:

• The Government must honour its election commitment to a referendum once a model for the Voice has been settled to ensure that a First Nations Voice to Parliament is protected by the Constitution
• Enabling legislation for the Voice must be passed after a referendum has been held in the next term of Parliament
• The membership model for the National Voice must ensure previously unheard Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the same chance of being selected as established leadership figures.

There is support available to write a submission by using the Submissions Guide and Submissions Generator.

Submissions to the Indigenous Voice co-design process must be made no later than 30th April 2021. To upload your submission visit: haveyoursay.voice.niaa.gov.au/submissions

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Support for the Uluru Statement

A faithful group of Uniting Church members have been involved in advocating for the Uluru Statement over numerous months. They have specifically focused on developing a support group to advocate for the Uluru Statement within the City of Unley. On Sunday 11^th of April 2021, the support group facilitated a community meeting to raise awareness about the Uluru Statement and to work towards the next steps in advocacy. Around 70 community members attended the meeting. It was an excellent display of community participating in reconciliation and advocacy for First Peoples. The meeting included a Welcome to Country by Kaurna Elder Uncle Frank Wanganeen, a presentation by Nolan Hunter a member of the Uluru Dialogue as well as a Q&A panel featuring Nolan Hunter, Uncle Frank Wanganeen, Tarlee Leondaris (Covenanting and International Mission Officer) and Mike Brown (Blackwood Reconciliation Group).

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