Our stance on the Voice – Insights from the Co-Chairs of the UTS Voice Working Group

From the co-chairs of the UTS Voice Working Group:
Prof. The Hon Verity Firth AM, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion)
Prof. Robynne Quiggin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership And Engagement)

 

UTS supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its implementation in full.

The statement calls for truth-telling and a real reckoning with our past and the ongoing impacts of colonialism; for treaties to undertake a process to come to agreements between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples on issues such as land, waters, justice, health and many other matter that might be prioritised by Indigenous people across the country; and for a Voice to ensure that Indigenous perspectives are listened to by government on matters that affect them.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart builds on generations of Indigenous people negotiating with governments to recognise their status as the First Peoples of this country with particular rights that attach to that status. The Voice to Parliament has the potential to be a way to give effect to the human right of 'effective participation in matters that affect a people'. Setting up a body that could give expert advice has potential to guide better policy and law making.

UTS recognises these specific rights of First Peoples and has longstanding commitment to the right to self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

UTS, like some other universities, has chosen to take a nuanced position on the Voice.

We are guided by the rich knowledge of the Indigenous community at UTS, who make up the largest Indigenous professoriate in Australia.

Our staff and student bodies are diverse – we don’t shy away from different perspectives on the world. As a university, we take our responsibility to foster meaningful discussion and respectful debate seriously and are happy to be a space where different views can coexist.

And we are very clear that there is no room at UTS for disrespectful speech. We will not tolerate hate speech, harassment or discrimination.

As an education institution, we can play an important role in helping people to better understand the issues around the referendum like the constitutional implications, concepts of nation building and self-determination, the case for Treaty, sharing the  truth of Australia’s history, and the need to engage diverse communities in the referendum process.

This is a history defining moment for Australia. It’s up to all of us to learn about the proposal, and our democratic right and responsibility to participate in the referendum.