A constitutional Voice in parliament would improve the health of Aboriginal Australians

Later this year Australians will vote in a referendum on whether the constitution should be changed to incorporate an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to parliament. The Voice will be a constitutionally enshrined body representing the views of Indigenous communities to the Australian parliament and the executive government on legislation and policy of significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.The idea for this constitutional amendment arose from a nationwide process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities resulting in a visionary document, the Uluru Statement from the Heart.1 The inspirational statement calls for a First Nations Voice to parliament, a treaty between the government and First Nations peoples, and a Makarrata commission to supervise a process of agreement making and truth telling. The Voice is intended to ensure that parliamentarians fully understand the impact of proposed legislation on First Nations people. Australia is currently debating whether and why…
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