More than 200 Muslim leaders from all over Australia joined a Zoom workshop together with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP to promote Indigenous recognition in the Australian constitution by supporting the YES vote at the forthcoming ‘Voice to Parliament’ referendum.
The Voice to Parliament Workshop, convened on Monday 11 September organised by the Alliance of Australian Muslims (AAM), was addressed by PM, Aboriginal leaders as well as Muslim politicians including Dr Ann Aly MP, Mr Jihad Dib MP and Senator Fatima Payman.
The workshop was designed to foster knowledge, understanding, and a collective commitment among non-Indigenous Australians to engage and cooperate with First Nations people representing a vital component of ongoing efforts to support the Uluru Statement From the Heart and raise awareness about the Voice to Parliament referendum scheduled for Saturday 14 October 2023.
Distinguished Guest Speakers
The event featured an impressive lineup of guest speakers who shared their perspectives on Indigenous recognition and the importance of unity:
- “We have an opportunity to write the next chapter in our story—one that is generous and respectful, just as Indigenous Australians are asking for.” – The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia.
- “Our struggles pale in comparison to the hundreds of years of struggle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters.” – Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Youth.
- “There is a solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. There is a lot of history there.” – Hon Jihad Dib, MP, Minister for Customer Service.
- “Australia is failing comprehensively to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.” – Hon David Harris MP, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
- “I really want you to understand how important it is that the Muslim community support us in this referendum.” – Mr Noel Pearson, Indigenous Leader.
Notable Presenters
Additionally, the workshop included presentations from two prominent figures:
- “If we say yes to that at the referendum, then it will be Parliament’s job to legislate how the voice will look, how members will be chosen, how it will work, etc.” – Dr Shireen Morris, Senior Lecturer at Macquarie Law School and Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab.
- “This vote, this referendum could be our one chance to give back to Indigenous people who have lost so much so that a great democracy could be built on their land from which we have all benefited.” – Brad Chilcott AM, Founder of Welcoming Australia and National Multicultural Engagement Coordinator for Yes23.
Unity and Solidarity
Imam Shadi Alsuleiman, who inaugurated the event, underscored the shared history and commitment to justice that binds the Muslim and Indigenous communities:
“We are supporting brothers and sisters that the Muslim community has a long and proud history with for over 500 years, and that’s the Indigenous community, and justice is a very important principle in Islam and all faiths.”
Recognising the Journey
Dr Anne Aly expressed humility in the face of the centuries of struggle experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities:
“Our struggles pale in comparison to the hundreds of years of struggle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters.”
A Historic Moment
Mr Jihad Dib spoke of the profound historical connection between the Muslim and Indigenous communities:
“There is a solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. There is a lot of history there.”
A Call for Recognition and Change
Mr David Harris MP, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, stressed the ethical importance of recognising Aboriginal people in the Constitution as the First Nations people:
“Aboriginal people should absolutely be recognised in our constitution as the First Nations people, the first people here on this continent.”
The Power of Unity
Brad Chilcott introduced Noel Pearson, Indigenous leader and founder of Cape York Partnership and Good to Great Schools Australia:
“It’s been very humbling for me to speak with your community in different parts of the country. I know exactly what you mean when you say that you are believers in social justice, that it is core to your belief. I can sense it. I feel it very deeply. I feel we are we Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not well-loved in Australia.”
“We feel a level of alienation from the rest of the country that underpins our sadness about our situation in our own land. So I’ve had this wonderful experience over the past two months of meeting your people and feeling a sense of brotherhood that is just humbling and emotionally very meaningful to me.”
“We really need you. We need your support. This is our time, our moment, our opportunity to achieve something great.”
A Generational Impact
Senator Fatima Payman stressed the importance of unity and education within the Muslim community:
“It’s about educating ourselves. It’s thinking from the heart and understanding how this is going to have generational impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
A Journey Towards Recognition
Dr Shireen Morris, reflecting on her involvement in the Indigenous recognition movement:
“Yes, we came here, we worked hard, and yes, we too suffered discrimination. But that’s nothing compared to what Indigenous people have suffered in this country. And I just think this vote, this referendum could be our one chance to give back to Indigenous people who have lost so much.”
The Voice to Parliament Workshop fostered a sense of unity and purpose among attendees, bringing together the Muslim and Indigenous communities to work towards a more inclusive and just Australia. The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, further engaging participants in critical discussions on Indigenous recognition and the referendum.
Original people are not under the AUSTRALIA constitution. Seems many have not been consulted and dont want it. You cant force the Voice upon them by voting in a system foreign to them.
Its like Chinese voting for australians to join China.!
There is a hidden agenda here