Today, the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) reiterates its support for the establishment of a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. PHAA encourages all Australians to unite and embrace the Voice as a key opportunity to support the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
“Years of consultation, discussion and engagement led by Australia’s First Peoples have created the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for the establishment of the Voice to Parliament,” said Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy, PHAA Vice President for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and senior public health researcher at the University of Newcastle.
“The Voice is an important step in the establishment of mechanisms to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on policies that affect us.”
PHAA President, Adjunct Professor Tarun Weeramanthri, highlighted the opportunity the Voice presents for improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
“A fundamental building block for addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health challenges is addressing equity,” he said.
“A Voice will provide a path for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices to be heard and respected, after being ignored or sidelined for many years. We cannot close the most glaring health equity gap in Australia if we continue to ignore its roots in our society.”
The Public Health Association of Australia community is proud to contribute at every opportunity to promote the Yes campaign, and the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Excerpt from the Uluru Statement from the Heart:
“We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.
“We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.”
