On 14 October 2023, more than six million Australians said ‘Yes’ to walking together
with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for a better future.
In the wake of the referendum, the Allies for Uluru continue to stand in solidarity with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. As a coalition of civil society
organisations, corporations and community groups, we are committed to
demonstrating our full and unwavering support for the core principles of the Uluru
Statement from the Heart. That is…
● We recommit to actively pursuing the establishment of representative voices
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples;
● We recommit to supporting sovereign to sovereign agreement-making and
treaty negotiations between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and
Australian governments; and
● We recommit to actively pursuing a national truth-telling process, as a vehicle
for healing.
We will not be fair-weather allies, we will not turn back, and we will not hesitate in
continuing to fight for justice and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples. In line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), self-determination is the right of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Peoples to be in control of decision-making that affects their
lives. We recognise that this self-determination must be catalysed by the transfer of
funding and decision making to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. As
Allies, we will also seek to embody Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
representative voices in our own structures and programs.
As Allies, we must incubate our hope for a better future, yet more than this, we must
join our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in building the future that we
desire. We will do this by continuing to advocate for the rights and aspirations of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Where we see pockets of hope or
progress – nationally, regionally and locally – we will add our voices to those of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, organisations and communities.
We call on all Australian governments and opposition parties to work with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to lay the foundation for a more fair and truthful
relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and
non-Indigenous Australians. We believe that this will deliver a better future for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, one based on justice and
self-determination. In turn, we believe that this will deliver a better future for all
Australians.
The Allies for Uluru reaffirm that the way forward for our nation lies in accepting the
generous invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and actively working
together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to build our shared vision
for a mature, just and equal Australia.
