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A Conversation About the Voice to Parliament

A Conversation About the Voice to Parliament

A community event to discuss the Voice to Parliament will be held on the 4th of August at the Bicentennial Hall in Queanbeyan.

In late 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

The Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body. It would give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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This community event is an opportunity to come together, learn and engage in a conversation about the Voice to Parliament with special guest speakers including local Ngambri-Ngunnawal Elder Matilda House and  Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man, Thomas Mayo.

Thomas is a signatory of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and has been a leading advocate since its inception in May 2017. He is the Chairperson of the Northern Territory Indigenous Labor Network and a director on the Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition board.

Thomas is also the author of  “The Voice to Parliament Handbook”  co-authored with well-respected journalist, Kerry O’Brien who will also be attending on the night.

Other guest speakers include Bigambul woman and Deputy Mayor of Queanbeyan Esma Livermore and Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain.

After hearing from the panel their will be the opportunity to ask questions and discuss further.

Attendees at a Voice to Parliament event.

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A Conversation About the Voice to Parliament

When: 5.30pm, Friday,  4 August 2023
Where: Bicentennial Hall, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan

For more information regarding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice visit http://voice.gov.au/.

About the Author: Holly Winchester

Part Jennifer Coolidge, part Jennifer Garner (gaudy and geeky), Holly idolises Dolly Parton and Princess Di and loves NRL. When she's not creating killer content, you’ll find Holly at the Maccas drive thru getting her chai latte fix or buying 1990s memorabilia for the walls of her Googong home. Specialist subject: the Woolies carpark.