Only Labor will support the Uluru Statement in full

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CANBERRA

31 MARCH 2022

*** CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY ***

Almost five years ago, 230 First Nations people met at Uluru at the National Constitutional Convention.

If you want to see a massive point of difference between that side of the House and the Labor Party, this is one of them.

The Labor Party is the only major political party that is committed to the Uluru Statement in full: that is, a constitutionally enshrined Voice to the parliament; that is, the establishment of a Makarrata Commission that will oversee a national process of truth telling and a national agreement and treaty-making process.

The Government promised, and then didn't promise, and then promised again and then somehow ended up that there would be a legislated Voice in this term of parliament.

Well, folks, it's the last day.

There is no legislated Voice.

There is no way forward.

I am so proud of my Party for their support of this important document.

All of you sitting in the bleachers up there will have a role to play in this in supporting a constitutionally enshrined Voice in a very short period of time.

ENDS

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra