Community Legal Centres Queensland say YES to the Voice to Parliament

Published on July 11, 2023

After careful consideration, and talking to the Community Legal Centres Queensland First Nations reference group and our other First Nation colleagues, Community Legal Centres Queensland supports the YES campaign on the Voice to Parliament.

Community Legal Centres Queensland recognises and respects the diversity of First Nations communities and peoples’ views on the enshrinement of First Nations voice in the Australian Constitution

Community Legal Centres Queensland acknowledges the importance of the 12 First Nations Regional Dialogues, which engaged over 1200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on questions of real and meaningful recognition in the Constitution. These consultations ultimately led (through the First Nations Constitutional Convention at Uluru) to the proposal of a Voice to Parliament as part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, encompassing Voice, Treaty and Truth.

Community Legal Centres Queensland supports the yes campaign of the Voice, as it is the most available and practical pathway to the other elements of the Uluru Statement of the Heart: Treaty and Truth.

Community Legal Centres Queensland supports the yes campaign of the Voice to Parliament as First Nations communities and peoples are asking Australians to be allies in the enshrinement of a First Nations voice in the Australian Constitution. The foundation of our relationship with First Nations people and communities is decency and respect, and we believe that standing in solidarity with First Nations peoples on the Uluru Statement from the Heart is the right thing to do.

Community Legal Centres Queensland recognises and respects that it is people who will vote in the referendum, not organisations, and that Community Legal Centres Queensland supports a Yes position while respecting the right of our member organisations and its people to support different positions.