Media Release – 16 March 2023

MYAN’S MESSAGE: VOICE TO PARLIAMENT

MYAN is proud to share with our network our public support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We support the Statement’s recommendations calling for three fundamental changes of Voice, Treaty, and Truth, which includes calls for a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution and a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth telling.

We support the statement as it aligns with MYAN’s values of contributing to a more equitable society, addressing racism and discrimination, and ensuring everyone can fully participate in Australian society. We work to support young people from multicultural backgrounds to have a say in the issues that affect them, and we believe a Voice to Parliament is both a meaningful and empowering step towards Australia’s First Nations peoples having a say in the matters that affect them. We also support plans for the Voice to have a youth advisory group – as one of two permanent groups.

Further, our Reconciliation Action Plan is focused on strengthening connections between multicultural young people, families and communities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We acknowledge that there are different perspectives on this matter, and we urge our supporters to undertake their own research to inform themselves in preparation for the Referendum. Read up on the history leading up to this moment, reflect on how sovereignty can be recognised and respected for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, and engage with the views and perspectives of First Nations Australians on what a Voice to Parliament means to them. Start a conversation with your friends, colleagues and families to understand what the Referendum process is and what it means.

As always, we encourage people to consider news sources carefully, particularly if you predominantly access news online or through your social media channels and be wary of clickbait, hyper-partisan opinion, and false information.

Ms. Rana Ebrahimi,
MYAN National Manager

Tips:

Consider the source
Read beyond the headlines and be wary of sharing articles based on headlines. What’s the whole story?
Check the author – are they credible? Are they real?
Who paid for this?
Check a site’s “about us” section. If this information doesn’t exist or there is a lack of transparency on the site, it can be a red flag
Look for unusual URLs or site names that are often trying to appear like legitimate news sites but aren’t
Check the date – reposting old news stories doesn’t necessarily mean they’re relevant to current events.

Useful websites:

Learn:
About Indigenous Constitutional Recognition through a Voice

Read:

Watch:
What is ‘A Voice to Parliament’? | Learning with From the Heart

Get involved:
https://yes23.com.au

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions on the Voice referendum

Training course
The Uluru Dialogue and From The Heart have developed an online course that explores what is meant by Indigenous Constitutional Recognition through a Voice – and what a Voice to Parliament is, and is not.
Take the course

Have conversations within your community
One of the simplest and most effective ways to support the campaign is to have conversations with the people in your life. The Yes campaign’s Guide to talking about the Voice to Parliament and other resources can support you in having these conversations.

Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN)

304 Drummond Street, 3053, Carlton

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