Submission to the Indigenous Voice co-design process

Reconciliation Australia has made a submission to the Indigenous Voice co-design process, which includes a number of recommendations in relation to the approach, its implementation and next steps.

Reconciliation Australia’s overall recommendations in the submission include:

  • Recommendation 1: Models for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation emerging from this process, not be referred to as the Voice so as not to confuse them with the calls in the Uluru Statement for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
  • Recommendation 2: The Government and co-design groups ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are given primacy in deliberations regarding the development of final models and their implementation.
  • Recommendation 3: Following the Indigenous representation co-design process, the Australian Government consider, in a deliberate and timely manner, the legislative and constitutional processes needed to establish a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
  • Recommendation 4: Following the Indigenous representation co-design process, the Australian Government set out a pathway to realise the bipartisan commitment to constitutional reform, and enshrine the Voice in the Constitution.
  • Recommendation 5: The Indigenous representation co-design groups reflect Indigenous Governance principles in the establishment of representative models and embed a ‘Culture-smart’ governance approach. This should be determined locally, ensure gender equity, be based on local priorities, and resonate with the cultural values of local communities.
  • Recommendation 6: The Indigenous representation co-design groups develop an implementation roadmap or plan for the national and regional framework. In doing this, the co-design groups should consider how the impact and effectiveness of national and regional representation models will be measured.

Read the full submission here.

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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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