Australian religious leaders have gathered in Sydney’s Barangaroo today to call for an urgent referendum.
Key points:
- Religious leaders from nine religious groups signed a resolution calling for action
- The signing marks the 55th anniversary of the 1967 referendum to include First Nations people in the constitution.
- Anthony Albanese’s new federal government has promised to make the statement, but has not given a timetable
All religious leaders have now formally approved the Declaration of the Heart of Uluru, which calls for a “voice” – a representative body that can help shape the policy of First Nations people – to be enshrined in the constitution. of Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged in last weekend’s election for a referendum on the Uluru Declaration.
Indigenous groups are now calling for a timetable for when exactly it could be held, but new Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney says it will not be convened unless the government is sure the Australian people will approve it.
Today’s meeting of leaders of nine different denominations shows that Australia has a growing consensus on the issue, said Indigenous keynote speaker and filmmaker Rachel Perkins.
“What an alignment,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then.
“I urge everyone to follow the example of these religious organizations … let’s put aside our differences and work together to achieve a successful referendum.”
Representatives of nine different denominations signed the declaration of support for the referendum. (ABC News)
During the event, officials from each religion signed a joint resolution calling for bipartisan action on the referendum, noting that it is “necessary, correct and reasonable.”
“There has been a lot of process and a lot of work done, all that remains to be done is to let the Australian people have their say,” the resolution said.
“There can be no more delays, our country has longed and waited too long for justice.
“Indigenous Australians must now have their rightful place in the Australian constitution.”
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Uluru Heart Declaration and the 55th anniversary of the 1967 referendum in which Australia voted in favor of changing the constitution so that all Indigenous people and islanders in Torres Strait were counted as part of the population.
Uluru’s statement, which has received support from a wide range of entities, including mining companies and sports teams, was ruled out by the Turnbull government when it was released in 2017.
However, religious leaders say the new Labor government has given them a renewed sense of hope.
Bhante Sujato, who signed the resolution on behalf of the Australian Buddhist community, said now was the time to build a “better democracy”.
Buddhist monk Bhante Sujato is a member of the Australian Sangha Association. (ABC News: Ceclia Connell)
“Sometimes people on the outside think all these religions are so different, but people on the inside don’t really see these differences as so important,” he said.
“For us, what matters is compassion, empathy and humanity.
“We need to create a broad consensus among the political class as we have done among religious leaders.”
Imam Ibrahim Dadoun said an indigenous voice in the constitution had been an “important point of conversation” within the Muslim community during the recent elections.
Imam Ibrahim Dadoun spoke on behalf of the National Council of Imams of Australia. (ABC News: Cecilia Connell)
“We say it’s very important because it’s part of the healing process to come to terms with what happened to the Aboriginal community. [since] 1770, “he said.
For the Jewish man Henry Pinskier, who is a donor to the founding of the Radical Reform Lab, the referendum is something he enjoys because of the dispossession of his own family.
“I come from a Jewish family affected by the Holocaust … it has played an important role in my education and plays an important role in my view of the problems,” he said.
“So for us, a commitment to an indigenous voice in the constitution is something for us that is very easy to understand. [and] very significant “.