Views on the Voice

People who would not ordinarily enter the daily hurly-burly of Australian politics are taking the time to share their thoughts on a Voice to Parliament ahead of the 2023 referendum.

In July's edition, among our stories to celebrate Naidoc Week, the Illawarra Flame featured two Indigenous men, Duane Byrnes and Corey Tutt, both leaders in their own spheres. Both are determined to vote Yes.

Born in 1992, Corey Tutt is a Kamilaroi man who grew up in Wollongong and overcame childhood challenges to become 2020’s NSW Young Australian of the Year. Today Corey is the CEO and founder of Deadly Science, which delivers bringing textbooks and telescopes to children in remote communities. He's also the author of two books. Read more in Deadly stories by a science champion.

“The Voice is obviously a very contentious topic at the moment,” Corey said. “But I would say that it's better than what we currently have – which is nothing.”

Corey warns against believing what you see on the internet.

“I would say to people that information has never been cheaper… Despite inflation and everything else going up, information's actually gotten cheaper. So that means it's less accurate, it’s easy to access.

“I would say to people, please do your research and read the actual Statement. Don't believe what you read on the internet, because it's not necessarily always the truth, as we know.

“I think that a Voice to Parliament that can consult on First Nations issues is a way to go and it will eventually lead to a treaty … we can eventually, hopefully, start to mend some of the wounds and move forward as a nation, which is important.”

A First Nations man with heritage from Wonnarua Gamilaroi and residing on Dharawal country, Duane Byrnes features on our July cover. He's nationally famous as one of the stars of SBS reality series Alone Australia and locally known as a father of two, a junior rugby league coach and one of the organisers of the annual Appin Massacre Memorial service.

When asked if he would be voting ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the referendum for a First Nations Voice to Parliament, Duane said: "I try to stay away from politics and bureaucracy, but I understand its importance, especially because we have been fighting for some form of power since the ships came in.

"Look, if the purpose of the Voice is to advise the Australian parliament and government on matters relating to the social, spiritual and economic wellbeing of First Nations people, then surely that’s a forward step and forwards is where I want to be heading in our future so I’m a ‘Yes’!

"Especially if that means more environmental protection and Cultural heritage protection across the country. So many cultural sites are protected across most of the world, yet ours keep getting destroyed and are an afterthought in developments."

Read more: Jeremy Lasek reports on the launch of the YES23 Illawarra campaign on Sunday, July 2.