The referendum has put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in a complex and difficult position. The Voice is about recognition and self-determination, but unfortunately this pursuit is becoming obstructed by misinformation and harmful racist debate.
However, this referendum is also an opportunity to make the First Nations voice louder. It’s an opportunity for Australia to listen, learn, and celebrate First Nations governance, strength, and cultures.
Australia has a lot to learn from the First Peoples of this land. By voting ‘yes’, we amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. By voting ‘yes’, we send a message of support and solidarity with First Nations communities.
We know from the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey that, frustratingly these votes, that are ultimately about human rights, get to be decided by the people they don’t affect. At ACON, we strive toward allyship, and part of that means promoting self-determination. That’s why, on October 14, ACON calls on non-Indigenous people in our communities to vote ‘YES’, to give a Voice back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We also know from the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey that these processes cause unnecessary harm. An essential part of practicing allyship is calling out racism when we see it. It is on us to minimise the harm caused by racist rhetoric and misinformation, both now, and after the referendum.
We encourage our communities to stay informed, listen to, and prioritise, First Nations voices. Share these in conversations with friends and families, so that First Nations perspectives are what informs the way our communities vote.
ACON will continue to provide support to all First Nations LGBTQ+SB people who seek it, regardless of their voting intentions.
This position is informed by our Approach to the Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. This approach was developed in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of ACON’s Reconciliation Action Plan working group and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ACON staff and is guided by our firm belief in First Nations’ self-determination and that First Nations people’s voices and truths should inform all Australian policy that affects them.
The approach outlines our commitments to First Nations LGBTQ+SB communities, now, and ongoing after the referendum.
Our ‘yes’ statement is firmly rooted in the belief that our work with, and commitment to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our communities continues beyond the referendum, and we must always strive toward allyship, and toward promoting self-determination.
Alongside this statement are further messages of support and solidarity for First Nations LGBTQ+SB people that will be distributed on ACON’s social media.