CAIRNS, 10 July 2002 – Noel Pearson, Professor Megan Davis, Pat Anderson AO and Roy Ah-See, on behalf of the Uluru Dialogue delegates, affirm today there will not be a compromised position on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament as articulated in the Uluru Statement From the Heart.
Noel Pearson, Director and Founder of the Cape York Institute, said: "Those seeking to pivot away from the Uluru Statement to a compromised position do not have the authority either from the delegates at the Uluru Dialogues, First Australians at large or by general public opinion. Let us be clear, such calls have no moral, organisational or political justification. Any suggestion of a compromise is utterly unacceptable and must be rejected."
Following the historic delivery of the Uluru Statement From the Heart on the 26th of May 2017, the Voice to Parliament received broad and unprecedented support across the legal profession. This included the Law Council of Australia, every state and territory Law Society and two former Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia Murray Gleeson CJ and Robert French CJ. Approximately twenty of Australia's leading law firms have also supported the Uluru Statement.
Professor Megan Davis, Balnaves Chair of Constitutional Law and Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous UNSW, said: "The Dialogues considered a range of options and the Uluru Statement From the Heart crystallises the agreement that was reached amongst those who participated and was subsequently supported by the legal profession. There is no mandate or compelling need to depart from the historic consensus that was reached."
Pat Anderson AO, Co-chair Uluru dialogues, Indigenous Law Centre, said: "There is a groundswell of support that continues to grow in the Australian community for a Voice to Parliament since the historic Uluru Statement From the Heart. Momentum is on the side of change and we know Australians are compelled by the fairness and practicality of the proposal."
Research conducted by the C|T Group on behalf of the From the Heart project in June 2020 shows there has been a seven point increase in support for the Voice, where 56% of Australian voters say they would vote "Yes" if a referendum were held today on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. Just 17% say they would vote no.
Earlier research carried out by the C|T Group in March 2020 indicates support is higher amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, where 71% say they would vote "Yes" if a referendum was held today. Just 10% say they would no.
Roy Ah-See, Co-chair Uluru dialogues, Indigenous Law Centre, said: "The Prime Minister has left open the possibility to enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the constitution. Those who are now proposing alternatives to this are jumping at political shadows that don't exist."
The Uluru Statement From The Heart is a rallying call for Australians to work together to get real, lasting and practical change to address the challenges faced by First Australians. Visit www.fromtheheart.com.au or www.ulurustatement.org to
