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Professor Tom Calma AO has called on Australians to focus on “facts and not opinions or the extreme hypotheticals that prevail” in the final weeks before the Voice Referendum.

Speaking at Diversity Council Australia’s Anna McPhee Memorial Oration in Melbourne yesterday just minutes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the long-awaited referendum date, Professor Calma urged Australians to stay informed and not be swayed by “the mis and disinformation that are being promoted by pundits who are ill-informed or have malicious intent”.

“I stand here today with a passion many of you share – to enhance the rights and quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to progress reconciliation and social justice,” Professor Calma said.”Walk with us for a better future for all. Start the journey and vote YES.”

Taking place at Zinc at Federation Square on Wednesday, DCA’s fifth annual Anna McPhee Memorial Oration was opened by DCA Chair Ming Long who welcomed a sold-out room of members and diversity and inclusion thought leaders.

Long emphasised the important role Australian businesses play in supporting employees through the debate and providing information and resources.

“It is clear to me supporting the Voice is not just a matter of social responsibility and a business investment in a sustainable future for Australia, it affirms our values and is a statement of what we stand for domestically and internationally,” she said.

Professor Calma, Kungarakan Elder co-author the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Report, and 2023 Senior Australian of the Year, gave a moving Oration explaining why this referendum is important for reconciliation in Australia, unpacking the principals behind the proposed change and dispelling some of the many myths surrounding the Voice.

Following a well-deserved standing ovation, he was joined on stage by Professor Nareen Young, Associate Dean (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) who led an engaging panel discussion featuring:

• Ian Hamm, Chairperson, First Nations Foundation
• Antoinette Braybrook AM, CEO Djirra and
• Julie Canepa, Director Digital Transformation CX APJC, Cisco

Professor Tom Calma, Antoinette Braybrook and Nareen Young

Hamm urged business to play an active part in the referendum debate.

“This country expects its corporations to play a positive role in its social construct, in its cultural identity, in who we are as a people,” he said.

“Corporations have to do more than just make a buck. The question corporations are being asked repeatedly every day is: what are you doing to contribute to the society in which you live?”

Expanding upon this point, Canepa said Cisco felt the need to be transparent with its employees in its support for the Voice.

“Principles are just principles if we don’t take action,” she said.

“We need to have a plan for our employees if it doesn’t go the way we want it to go and we need to have a plan for if it does go the right way. What’s next? How do we continue to progress the conversation?”

When asked what Australians can do to support the Voice, Braybrook spoke about the weight of cultural load on First Nations people.

“I’m an Aboriginal woman and I want change for my family. I want my mum to be able to see this change, because she has endured so much,” she said.

“I want her to see change. I want my nieces and my nephew to have a different future.”

She said it was time non-Indigenous Australians carried some of this load.

“Take it on. Talk to your family and friends. Educate yourself. We’re here to talk to you.

“We give so much of our life. This is our life. Carry some of the load.”

DCA CEO Lisa Annese thanked this year’s speakers and attendees for engaging in such an important discussion.

“We host our annual Oration to honour the memory of DCA’s former Chair, Anna McPhee, a true champion of fostering a diverse and inclusive Australia where everyone may feel accepted and welcome,” she said.

“I want to thank Professor Tom Calma for giving such an inspiring and thought-provoking Oration and presenting a compelling case for Australians to vote Yes! In the upcoming referendum.

“The Voice to Parliament referendum represents a pivotal moment in Australian history, and we all have an important role to play.

“Genuine inclusion must begin with reconciliation. There can be no genuine workplace inclusion while our First Nations Peoples are excluded from opportunities, and we as a nation do not address race relations, equality and equity, unity, institutional integrity, and historical acceptance by including First Nations People in the Constitution.”

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