Tammy's View on the Voice

In late 2023, Australians will vote in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

This week, we heard from Tammy Small (family name Gordon), Manager Projects – Indigenous Advancement at the University of Wollongong.

Yuwin Ngadhi (my name is) Tammy and I am a proud Wiradjuri woman who is currently living on the lands of the Dharawal-speaking people. This upcoming referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Voice to parliament highlights that over the past 235 years the voices have changed but the issues remain the same.

It is safe to say that the unremitting work of Indigenous activists throughout Australian history helped create one of the most culturally resilient groups of Indigenous peoples in the world. We have been faced with the torment and legacy of historical powerlessness in Australian classrooms, media, research, textbooks etc. This powerlessness of a voice to record the true histories have resulted in the misrepresentation of Indigenous identity.

The upcoming referendum will enable advocacy of voice around truth-telling with trust and respect at its core. A more informed Australia has the ability to lead to a ripple effect for real transformative change, where we can begin to reimagine ourselves as a nation.

Historically, government policies, practices and procedures have been entrenched with racist ideologies and Western epistemologies that have disregarded the diversity of identities of Indigenous Australians and intensified lasting intergenerational effects. Together we can ensure that this does not continue to be our story.

Vote yes to ensure that Indigenous voices are heard, valued and respected. This is our opportunity to come together and push for deeper commitment, accountability and parliamentary agility to respond to new and emerging realities relating to Indigenous peoples.

I give thanks to the pioneers of the past who created the first pathway for a voice and healing to occur, to the people of the present who continue to navigate their way through misplaced histories and the emerging who hold the key to contributing to removing the lens of a single-sided story.