The Voice to Parliament

In late 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Australian Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (the Voice).

The Voice is proposed to be an independent and permanent advisory body.

Mildura Rural City Council has received enquiries from community members as to its position on the Voice. Consultation with our Ngiwa Yarna Committee (which advises Council on matters that are about, or affect, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community) on the Voice began in February 2023 and has been ongoing.

At Council’s August Ordinary Council Meeting, and following advice received from the Ngiwa Yarna Committee, Council resolved to:

  • Remain publicly neutral, and commit to share clear, unbiased information and to counter misinformation about the Voice.
  • Respect and recognise there is a diversity of views regarding the Voice to Parliament and the referendum.
  • Encourage residents to actively inform themselves and respectfully exercise their democratic right to have their say.
  • Make the Ngiwa Yarna Statement of Advice, as detailed below, publicly available.

Ngiwa Yarna Statement of Advice

The Australian community will soon vote in the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

As would be expected on any issue, there is a diversity of opinion amongst the Ngiwa Yarna Committee members on the Voice to Parliament. The advice of the Ngiwa Yarna Committee to Council is to remain publicly neutral and for Council to commit to share clear, unbiased information and to counter misinformation about the Voice.

The Ngiwa Yarna Committee (formerly the Aboriginal Action Committee) was established in late 2011. Its aim is to strengthen Council’s relationships and engagement with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Ngiwa Yarna Committee advises Mildura Rural City Council on matters that are about, or affect, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.

Committee membership consists of community members, Elders, representatives from key local Aboriginal organisations and committees, and two Councillors. The Ngiwa Yarna Committee has been vital in assisting Council with the development and implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plans (Council is currently in the process of finalising the draft of our third RAP). Also, in hosting community events (such as Corroboree events since 2017 and annual NAIDOC and National Reconciliation Week events) and in a variety of other projects and activities.

The Ngiwa Yarna Committee have assisted Council officers to develop a ‘Voice to Parliament’ information session. Information for the session was sourced from ABC Fact Check, SBS news, the Voice.gov.au website, and Monash University Law Faculty. The session aims to give facts without opinion, and to counter misinformation that may be circulating in the community. The presentation has been delivered to Councillors and will soon be offered to all Council staff.

We recognise there is a diversity of views regarding the Voice to Parliament and the referendum, and we respect that.

We encourage residents to actively inform themselves and respectfully exercise their democratic right to have their say.

Council officers from council’s Community Wellbeing team are available to deliver the Voice to Parliament information session in person or online to interested community groups or workplaces within Mildura municipality. Contact claire.galvin@mildura.vic.gov.au or Council’s main phone number 03 5018 8100 to arrange this.

For more information regarding the Voice to Parliament, visit www.voice.gov.au

Related Information

Back to top