Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today was a historic day, with the passing of the legislation that will enable a referendum on a voice to parliament. Like many Australians, this will be the very first referendum that I get to vote in, and I can't wait to vote 'yes'. The referendum will invite Australians to make a change to our Constitution—our nation's birth certificate; the document that lays out our collective intentions for the country that we are and the country that we hope to be.

This referendum is about two things: recognition and listening. The legislation that we passed today is an opportunity for non-Indigenous Australians to meaningfully respond to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The late Yunupingu described recognition as a gift not to Indigenous Australians but from them. The Uluru Statement, given by 250 First Nations leaders over six years ago, is a generous invitation to walk together on a path of reconciliation.

I personally come to this debate inspired by the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in regional Queensland. During my very first speech in this place I spoke of Aunty Ruth and Uncle Alf and all of the Yarrabah community who led a critical campaign on the path to a successful 1967 referendum. Tomorrow, the community of Far North Queensland will meet to acknowledge the passing of Uncle Alfred Neal. I will have more to more to say about this, but I want to acknowledge his enormous contribution and the long path he has worn from 1967 to now. I also want to acknowledge all of the activists and leaders from the Torres Strait who have led us to this moment. I want to particularly acknowledge Mayor Mosby's work. He wore this around his neck as the Torres Strait Islander sign, the Masig Statement, in August last year. He put it around my neck as a symbol of a gift that is this generous proposal. (Time expired)