A Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities a route to help inform policy and legal decisions that impact their lives.
As a local government, Bayside engages with our community to ensure decision making, programs and services are informed by shared aspirations for the future.
The Bayside 2050 Community Vision developed in 2019-20 by a representative group of residents aspires to:
“Bayside in 2050 leads the way demonstrably as a diverse, healthy and liveable place. We value economic and cultural progress, environmental sustainability and protection of open spaces and coastline, and we nurture inclusiveness, safety, accessibility, community vibrancy, creativity and innovation.”
Bayside’s support for the Voice reflects this aspiration in relation to reconciliation.
Council has also resolved to deliver information to assist Bayside electors to understand the importance, purpose and process of the Voice referendum on 14 October 2023 and mitigate misinformation.
In the lead up to the referendum, Council will share information on:
- Importance – Council’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation as expressed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
- Process – Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) information on how to get information on, enrol and vote in the referendum.
- Purpose – Australian Government information on the referendum to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
