Large, diverse support for the Voice to Parliament

In a highly unusual alliance, Australia’s not-for-profits have joined with banks, sporting code peaks, IT and insurance companies, trade unions, educational institutions, and some of the country’s biggest corporations to support a Voice to Parliament and a “yes” vote in the Referendum.

The more than 70 organisations are all members of a network of 2,450 organisations with a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The group includes the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Life Without Barriers, Independent Education Union, Public Health Association of Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Goodstart Early Learning, Wesfarmers, Fremantle Football Club, National Rugby League, Fujitsu Australia Limited, Origin Energy, Federation University and Transgrid among many others.

For many of these organisations it will be their first call for a Yes vote since the public debate around the Voice to Parliament referendum began.

Reconciliation Australia CEO, Karen Mundine, said the group’s diversity underscores the broad support for the Voice to Parliament from Australians from all walks of life.

“There are few times in Australian history when such a diverse group of organisations representing some very disparate interests have come together to support a particular goal,” she said.

“Constitutional recognition and a greater say for First Nations peoples have been a central pillar of the reconciliation movement for decades.

In 2000 our predecessor, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation called for a referendum for constitutional recognition, and stressed the critical importance of a greater First Nations voice in decisions that impact us,” said Ms Mundine.

“Twenty-three years later the reconciliation movement, including our RAP partners, are just as certain and just as passionate that these outcomes are central to Australia’s journey of reconciliation.”

Ms Mundine said she had been urging the RAP network to inform and educate themselves, and their stakeholders about the Voice and the referendum process to counter misinformation and ensure that all Australians can responsibly participate in this momentous national decision.

Read the full RAP partner joint statement in support of a Voice to Parliament and a “yes” vote in the Referendum.

See more info on Voice to Parliament.

RAP partners logos showing combined support for a Voice to Parliament
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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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