Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (21:41): I rise to speak in support of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023. This bill will help to shape the future of our nation. The Voice will shape the nature of our nation. The idea of this takes us back to the point at which the first settlers came to this land, to the land we now call Australia. I want to be clear: the Voice doesn't discriminate but it does acknowledge who was here first.
Aboriginal people lived here for long before the settlers arrived and they have managed and cared for this land for a long, long time yet currently there is no acknowledgement of this in the Australian Constitution. This needs to change. Where I live on the South Coast of New South Wales, Jerrinja country, there are constant reminders of our Aboriginal heritage. Cullunghutti Mountain, the story of the black cockatoo; local elders and Aboriginal dancers that are teaching us all more about truth, culture and history. The Dharawal and Dhurga languages that are pleasingly becoming more well-known. We're learning the Aboriginal names for our rivers like Bhundoo for the Clyde River at Batemans Bay. We're learning more and more, and for that I say to every Aboriginal elder and person: thank you. We are all finding that our First Nations culture is truly unique, so, so special and inspiring. It brings so much to our country already and will bring so much more as we nurture it.
In 2023, where I live on the New South Wales South Coast, there are Aboriginal health organisation doing amazing work. But there are challenges. Aboriginal people who live on the south coast have a life expectancy of almost 10 years less than the people who live around them. Their babies are born lighter, fewer of their children go to school and more of their relatives are incarcerated. These stats are an unfortunate reality of being a First Nations person in Australia right now but it doesn't have to be this way. The Voice will begin to address these issues. It won't fix everything. There are large gaps that need closing, but the Voice will propel that work. The Voice will put Aboriginal voices first for issues that affect Aboriginal people. That sounds like a great idea. It hardly sounds like it should be controversial.
Their culture is indeed a gift to this country. Their culture is a true gift to the south coast, as it already has been for thousands of years. Just two weeks ago I went to a cultural burn in Mogo. It was incredible. To watch people caring for country and the land was remarkable, all while taking the time to explain to community members present about the burn. I saw how the Walbunja people cared for the land. Fire moved slow and methodically through the bush. The First Nations custodians who were burning the country were walking over the fire line. They moved throughout the burn with ease, talking and educating people as they went along. This is what cultural knowledge can bring.
I'll tell you why I have gone into such detail about this cultural burn in Mogo on the New South Wales South Coast. Like everyone in our communities, we all went through the horrific bushfires of 2019-20. Lives were tragically lost. Homes were lost. Livelihoods were lost. But I think it could have been different if the land was managed more by our First Nations people. I saw how the bushfires burned out of control through almost 90 per cent of my electorate of Gilmore, but the Walbunja rangers and the Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council were able to burn the land recently with ease. In doing this they were able to ensure that part of the earth wouldn't burn out of control in the future.
That's just one of the many reasons I support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. I want a consultative body like the Voice to be able to discuss things like cultural burning and caring for country, but also to discuss health policy and outcomes and the way in which services can best be delivered. Let me be clear. This is about delivering better outcomes for Aboriginal people in our communities, but, importantly, it is about delivering better outcomes for our community as a whole, where everyone benefits. This is our chance to come together to get things right. As a mum, I want to be able to say to my children—and, hopefully, my grandchildren one day—that in 2023 we did everything possible to recognise our First Peoples in our Constitution, that we gave a voice for a better country.
One of my election commitments was a cultural birthing on country centre for Waminda, the South Coast Women's Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal women's health service based in Nowra. We listened to what the Aboriginal women's health service wanted and consulted with the staff at Waminda so that we could deliver what they want and need. That's what this is all about. That is what the Voice is all about: Aboriginal voices being heard on the issues that affect them.
The Voice would be a critical step towards recognising the rights and protecting the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, protecting their land and their culture. Together, let us lend our voices to the Voice legislation and ensure that the rich tapestry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures thrives for generations to come. The 1967 referendum was a pivotal moment in Australian history. The 1967 referendum, however, came too late. Let's not let the Voice be held off. This is so important. As I said, where I live Aboriginal people on average die about a decade before the people who live around them. We need to pass this bill to hold a referendum that will amend our Constitution to recognise the voices and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is time.
This decision will acknowledge the rich and ancient cultures that have thrived on this land for thousands of years. It is a commitment to reconciliation, equality and justice. It is an opportunity for us to heal the wounds of the past and forge a more inclusive future. Australia is a diverse nation, and it is essential that we embrace and celebrate this diversity in all its forms. The inclusion of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in the Constitution will provide a platform for Indigenous peoples to be heard and participate in the decisions that affect their lives, their communities and their futures. It is a chance to ensure that their perspectives, knowledge and experiences are integrated into the fabric of our nation's governance. By giving a constitutional voice to Indigenous peoples we empower them to contribute to the development of policies and legislation that impact their communities.
This is not about tokenism or symbolic gestures. It is about genuine representation and partnership. It is about recognising the inherent rights of First Nations people and the need to address the historical injustices they have endured. This constitutional change will strengthen our democracy. The Indigenous Voice will ensure that policies and laws are scrutinised through the lens of the Indigenous people that those policies will be affecting. This will help prevent the repetition of past mistakes and enable us to create more informed, equitable and sustainable policies for the benefit of all Australian. Critics may argue that the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice may lead to division or fragmentation within our society, but I don't think it well. It means recognising and valuing our differences, and understanding that, by embracing diversity, we become stronger as a nation.
This isn't a half-baked idea. The Voice has been developed methodically and carefully. This bill has been shaped through extensive consultation and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country, including local people from my electorate who had direct input into the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Their voices, hopes and aspirations have guided the drafting of this legislation. It is a testament to the strength of our democracy that we can engage in a collaborative process to shape our nation's future. The passage of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation, justice and equality. It is a chance to build a stronger and more inclusive Australia, one that recognises and celebrates the rich cultures and contributions of the First Nations people in this country.
By empowering Indigenous voices through constitutional recognition we pave the way for a more equitable and united future. Let us seize this moment and work together to ensure that every Australian has an equal opportunity to thrive and succeed. Let's ensure that everyone's voice is heard. I commend this bill to the House.
