Limestone Coast residents were given the opportunity to ask questions regarding the proposed Federal Voice to Parliament with a special community event held in Mount Gambier on Tuesday night.
Organised by the local Liberal branch, the gathering featured speakers Member for Barker Tony Pasin (pictured above left), Senator Alex Antic, Senator Kerrynne Liddle, with Ben Hood MLC emceeing.
The event attracted more than 100 people to Mount Gambier’s City Hall.
The meeting was held as later this year Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Federal Government has declared the Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body to give advice to the Australian Parliament and government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The format of the forum allowed speakers to talk for 15 minutes before questions were accepted from the attendees.
The Liberal politicians hosting the forum called for the Voice to be legislated rather than recognised in the Australian Constitution.
Jason, who was one of many concerned citizens in attendance, asked what the organisers thought the main motive of the Prime Minister was in establishing the Voice.
“To win the next election,” Mr Pasin answered.
“Political parties exist to win elections and Anthony Albanese is someone who is deeply invested in the success of the Australian Labor Party.”
Mount Gambier branch of the Liberal Party secretary Julie Peucker said the consensus of the room was they wanted to be better informed about the Voice.
“I do not have a problem with Aboriginal people being recognised in the constitution and I know that’s what we’re being asked at the referendum but it’s what happens after that,” she said.
“What’s the Pandora’s box that we’re opening after that?
“I’m just concerned that our essential way of life as we know it will change enormously, especially for farmers.
“That is my biggest concern and I mean the Uluru Statement from the Heart has three parts and when our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected in he said ‘well we will proceed with all three parts’.
“The first part is a referendum to put a Voice in the constitution so then after the others follows and that’s what worries me the most.”
The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for a First Nations Voice to Parliament and a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling.
The three reforms of the statement are Voice, Treaty and Truth.
Mrs Peucker said she and those opposed to the Voice would “absolutely” feel better if they knew all the information.
“If the Prime Minister could actually lay it all out on the table and say ‘well this is what we’re going for’ rather than just saying ‘vote yes and then we’ll work it all out afterwards’,” she said.
“I think people actually like the fine detail before they go into it.”
