WASO supports the Voice to Parliament
31.08.2023
Just as we are proud to share the stage with First Nations voices through our musical collaborations, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra is proud to advocate for a Voice to Parliament.
The upcoming referendum is a historic moment. All Australians have an opportunity to write a new chapter in our Constitution, recognising First Peoples through establishing a Voice to Parliament, as proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The Voice will create real change by opening a channel of communication between the government and First Nations communities about laws and policies that impact their daily lives.
WASO acknowledge that there are a range of views held on the Voice. In the spirit of reconciliation, we encourage mindful and constructive engagement with the debate for the well-being of all Australians. We believe in the importance of making an informed decision about how to vote in the referendum, by accessing balanced resources and listening respectfully to differing perspectives on the Voice, especially those shared by First Nations peoples.
As a Reconciliation Action Plan registered organisation, WASO staff have been learning together about the decades of advocacy leading to the Voice to Parliament, and we encourage our wider WASO community to read the Uluru Statement and hear the invitation within it: “We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. In 1967 we were counted. In 2017 we seek to be heard… We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”