2019-07-15 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                                      15 JULY 2019

Background

In May 2017, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people forged a consensus around the Uluru
Statement from the Heart. This consensus followed a process of consultation and engagement of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Australia through deliberative dialogues
in 13 regions.

Each dialogue had approximately 100 representatives from local traditional owners, Indigenous
community-based organisations and Indigenous leaders. These dialogues in turn selected their
representatives to attend the First Nations Constitutional Convention at Uluru. At this Convention,
Indigenous leaders articulated how meaningful constitutional recognition and structural reform
could take place. At the conclusion of the Convention, in an overwhelming consensus, more than
250 delegates adopted the “Uluru Statement from the Heart”.

This is the first time that there has been a national consensus on the constitutional change that is
desired by Indigenous Australians.

More details on the development of the “Uluru Statement from the Heart” can be found here:
https://www.1voiceuluru.org/

What does the Uluru Statement call for?

The Uluru Statement rejects symbolic constitutional recognition in favour of substantive
constitutional reform and calls for three fundamental changes: Voice, Treaty, Truth.

The first reform is the constitutional enshrinement of a First Nations Voice. The Voice will empower
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples politically. It will be a permanent institution for
expressing First Nations’ views to the parliament and government on important policy decisions
affecting their rights.

The next reform after the Voice is established is Treaty, followed by Truth. These reforms involve
establishing an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee the negotiation of treaties and
truth-telling processes.

What is Makarrata?

Makarrata is a Yolngu word meaning ‘coming together after a struggle’. It is both the ideal that
underpins the Uluru Statement and its call for Voice, Treaty, Truth and the mechanism by which
the relationship between First Nations and the people of Australia can move to one based on
fairness, truth, justice and self-determination, a relationship where Indigenous cultures can flourish
and the Australian nation can reach a fuller potential.

Why support the Uluru Statement?

There have been a large number of major organisations that have publicly provided support for the
Uluru Statement. This includes a significant number of major businesses and organisations
including major legal, accounting and mining firms – BHP, Curtin University, Herbert Smith
Freehills, IAG, KPMG, Lendlease, National Rugby League, PwC Australia, PwC’s Indigenous
Consulting, Qantas, Richmond Football Club, Rio Tinto, Swinburne University of Technology and
Woodside are some of the more well-known ones.

The lack of constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples is one of Australia’s longest standing
unresolved issues.

The historic consensus achieved at Uluru means that now is the appropriate time for a national
discussion on the best way forward.


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