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First meetings of Referendum Working Group & Referendum Engagement Group

Prime Minister

The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.

The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.

They will provide advice to the Government on how best to ensure a successful Referendum and focus on the key questions that need to be considered in the coming months, including:

  1. The timing to conduct a successful referendum;
  2. Refining the proposed constitutional amendment and question;
  3. The information on the Voice necessary for a successful referendum

A second meeting will be held with the Referendum Engagement Group, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from the across the country, including: land councils, local governments and community controlled organisations.

They will provide advice about building community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.

Today’s meetings follow the Prime Minister’s landmark speech at the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land, where he released the possible wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and question on the Voice to be put to the Australian people.

Attribute to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“The constitution is our nation’s birth certificate.

“It should be a source of pride that all Australians share this continent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, the oldest continuous civilisation on earth.

“This should be recognised with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.”

Attribute to Minister Linda Burney:

“This is an important next step on the road to the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

“The work of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are front and centre in the decision making leading up to the Referendum.

“They will provide us with advice about how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community on this important nation building project.

Attribute to the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus:

“This Uluru Statement is an extraordinary act of generosity, friendship and reconciliation.

“The Referendum Working Group will work closely in partnership with government on the road forward.

Attribute to the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Senator Patrick Dodson:

“This Group is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to go out and consult as we work to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.

We’ve got a clear plan to get us from Garma to referendum day.

The first step on that road is to listen to Indigenous Australians on how best to ensure we deliver a successful referendum.”

REFERENDUM WORKING GROUP

Mr Dale AgiusSA Commissioner for First Nations Voice
Ms Pat Anderson AOCo-chair of Uluru Dialogue
Ms Geraldine AtkinsonCo-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups

Professor Tom Calma AOCo-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

Chancellor, University of Canberra

Co-chair, Reconciliation Australia

Professor Megan DavisCo-chair of Uluru Dialogue

Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW

Mr Rodney DillonTasmanian Regional Aboriginal Community Alliance
Mr Sean GordonManaging Director, Gingee Group

Councillor, University of Newcastle

Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHACo-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee

Co-chair, ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Apology Foundation

Professor Dr Marcia Langton AOCo-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

Associate Provost, University of Melbourne

Mr Thomas MayorFrom the Heart
Mr Tony McAvoy SCNT Treaty Commissioner

Barrister

June Oscar AO (ex officio)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Mr Dean ParkinFrom the Heart
Mr Noel PearsonFounder of Cape York Institute

From the Heart Advisory Group

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

Ms Sally ScalesUluru Dialogue member

APY Artist

Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AMChairperson, Torres Strait Regional Authority
Mr Marcus StewartCo-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups

Ms Pat Turner AMConvenor of Coalition of Peaks

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

CEO of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

The Hon Ken Wyatt AMFormer Minister for Indigenous Australians
Professor Peter Yu AMMember of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

Vice President, First Nations at ANU

Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AMChairman, Yothu Yindi Foundation

REFERENDUM ENGAGEMENT GROUP

Membership of the Referendum Engagement Group will include those on the Working Group and additional people including:

Mr Thomas AmagulaDeputy Chair, Anindilyakwa Land Council
Cr Ross AndrewsMayor, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council

Australian Local Government Association representative

Mr Nathan AppoInstitute of Urban Indigenous Health
Professor Muriel Bamblett AOCEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

Coalition of Peaks representative

Ms Jennifer BealeButucarbin Aboriginal Corporation
Professor Jack BeetsonAustralian Centre for Agriculture & Law – University of New England
Mr Dameyon BonsonFounder, Black Rainbow Living Well
Ms Wendy BrabhamWathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
Mr Paul Briggs OAMExecutive Chair, Kaiela Institute
Mr Gavin BrownCEO PwC Indigenous Consulting
Mr Selwyn ButtonChair, The Lowitja Institute
Mr Nicholas CameronChair, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance
Ms Shirleen CampbellTangentyere Women’s Safety Group
Cr Danny ChapmanChairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Ms Fiona CornforthCEO, Healing Foundation
Dr Josie DouglasExecutive Director of Policy, Central Land Council
Ms Katrina Fanning PSMMember of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Tyronne GarstoneCEO, Kimberley Land Council
Mr Mick GoodaCo-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups

Mr Damian GriffisCEO of First Peoples Disability Network

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

Ms Tanya HoschExecutive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy, AFL
Mr Paul HouseNgambri Local Aboriginal Land Council

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups

Mr Gibson Farmer IllortaminniChairman, Tiwi Land Council
Ms Deborah KatonaSenior Manager Policy, Northern Land Council
Cr Esma LivermoreDeputy Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

Australian Local Government Association representative

Mr Jamie Lowe³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Native Title Tribunal

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups

Dr Hannah McGladeCurtin Law School
Mr Wayne MillerChair, Far West Community Leadership Group

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups

Cr Phillemon MosbyMayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council

Australian Local Government Association representative

Mr Kado MuirActivist & Impact Entrepreneur at Dilji

Social Anthropologist

Ms Karen MundineCEO, Reconciliation Australia
Ms Teela ReidUluru Dialogue Group

University of Sydney

Cr Matthew RyanMayor, West Arnhem Regional Council

Australian Local Government Association representative

Mr Shane SturgissBlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
Mr Ian Trust AO³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Chair, Empowered Communities

Chairman, Wunan

Mr Les TurnerCEO, Central Land Council
Dr Tracy Westerman AMFounding Director, Indigenous Psychological Services
Mr Richard WestonDeputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People (NSW)

Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups

Mr Sammy WilsonTraditional Owner, Uluru

Former Chair, Central Land Council

Mr Scott WilsonLead Convenor of SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Network

Coalition of Peaks representative

Professor Asmi WoodProfessor, ANU College of Law

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