Hey there! ๐
You are powerful, influential and the Voice needs you!
You're a trusted messenger to your friends, family and community.
If you can convince 3 people to vote YES with you, we can do this!
Will you join the campaign to share why you are voting yes?
How to get involved ๐
Write, snap and share on social media!
Step 1 ๐ค๐ผ ๐ธ
Write โYESโ on your hand and snap a selfie
Step 2 ๐ผ โ๏ธ
Share your selfie alongside this carousel (download below)
Step 3 ๐ฒ ๐ฃ
Add the caption and hashtags below
Step 4 ๐ ๐ท
Share on your social media and tag 3 friends!
If youโre waiting for a sign, this is it! ๐
A message from Dean Parkin, Yes23 Campaign Director
Questions? ๐ค
We've got answers! ๐
What is the voice to parliament?
The Voice to Parliament is a straightforward update to the constitution to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a say on the unique matters affecting their communities. The Voice wonโt make new laws, control funding, or sit in the houses of Parliament โ it simply provides informed advice to the Government on issues that affect Indigenous Australians.
The Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from every state and territory, the Torres Strait Islands, and regional and remote communities. Members will be chosen by Indigenous people in their local area and serve for a fixed period.
Why do we need the Voice?
When we listen to Indigenous Australians and make policy decisions based on their local knowledge, it leads to better results.
Australians recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face serious and unique challenges. But too often, their voices are ignored when policy is developed to address these issues.
Indigenous Australians know their communities better than any politician or bureaucrat ever could. They have made the reasonable request to be listened to about the issues facing their communities, and be given a voice to advise the government on what solutions will actually work.
How else can I get involved in the campaign for a Voice?
Each of us can have a big impact on the outcome of this referendum.
Already, 25,000 people from across the country have signed up to volunteer on the campaign for Yes - but we arenโt done yet.
Everyday Australians are getting involved - many for the first time. Talking to friends, displaying a sign in their yard, speaking on the phone and sharing information online.
In the lead up to referendum day, we will need tens of thousands of hands on deck to ensure that every voter knows how important this referendum is.
Head to www.yes23.com.au/volunteer and sign up now. We run training sessions for new volunteers, so youโll always feel supported and confident to have the conversations that matter in your community.
Where did the idea for the Voice come from?
The idea for the Voice came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and has been decades in the making.
In 2017, over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders from Indigenous communities across Australia came together and proposed the Voice to Parliament as part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
This statement was an invitation to all Australians to help create a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - an invitation many Australians have accepted with an open heart.
How will this update the constitution?
If the Australian people write Yes at the Referendum, the following amendment will be made in the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and outline how the Voice will work with the Government of the day:
Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
i. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
ii. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
iii. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
Where can I find more information and campaign resources?
If you need more support, please reach out to the team: hello@yes23.com.au