House debates

Thursday, 19 October 2023

Statements by Members

Australian Constitution: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

1:34 pm

Photo of Alison ByrnesAlison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I want to say a big thankyou to all the 'yes' volunteers and supporters across the country for believing in a better future for all Australians during the Voice to Parliament referendum. While the result was not what we had hoped for, everyone put their entire heart and soul into the campaign, having hard conversations and changing minds, which, proudly, saw Cunningham vote yes. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers for the 'yes' campaign in the Wollongong area.

Thank you to the organising committee, made up of John Corker, Jeremy Lasek, Jaymee Beveridge and Woolyungah, Sally Stevenson, Sallie Moffatt, Tina Smith, Theresa Huxtable, Sharon Callaghan, Stephen Young, Callum Glasgow and Russell Couch. Thank you also to all the dedicated postcode leaders right across the electorate: Cam Sugden, Francis Brazil, Ciara Bowe, Bronwyn Batten, Russell Hogg, Vicki Sugars, Jess Holz, Benita Andrews, Tiana Myers, Elisabeth Smith and Susan Benham. A special acknowledgement goes to Uncle Richard Davis and Dr Jodi Edwards, who did many of the welcomes to country.

Working in tandem with Wollongong for Yes was the outstanding and never-tiring Illawarra Young Labor team, led by Geordie Horan and Callum Bain. This team knocked on over 500 doors and made 5,000 phone calls, all while balancing work and university. Thank you to Callum Glasgow, Lou Fitch, Ethan Powell, Noah Hardie, Miles Watson, Harrison Ledger, Jessica Wallace, Noah McMillan, Frances Kerkham, Ben Hancock, Ryan Jinks, Josh Lane, Ella Rose-Webber— (Time expired)