Allyship strong on Uluru Statement from the Heart
National Assembly reaffirms commitment on 7th anniversary of the Uluru Statement
May 29, 2024
The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly has joined over 50 other organisations in reaffirming its commitment to the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart: Voice, Treaty and Truth.
The Statement of Commitment was released by the Allies for Uluru coalition to coincide with the 7th anniversary of the Uluru Statement on 26 May 2024. Allies for Uluru is part of national First Nations advocacy organisation ANTaR.
The Statement was also signed by UnitingCare Australia and the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.
Following the disappointing referendum result in October 2023, the Assembly affirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and to standing in solidarity with First Nations people and with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
"As Allies, we must incubate our hope for a better future, yet more than this, we must join our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in building the future that we desire."
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The Statement affirms:
- We recommit to actively pursuing the establishment of representative voices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples;
- We recommit to supporting sovereign to sovereign agreement-making and treaty negotiations between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Australian governments; and
- We recommit to actively pursuing a national truth-telling process, as a vehicle for healing.
"We will not be fair-weather allies, we will not turn back, and we will not hesitate in continuing to fight for justice and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," it reads.
"As Allies, we must incubate our hope for a better future, yet more than this, we must join our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in building the future that we desire."
"We will do this by continuing to advocate for the rights and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples."
Member organisations can still invited to sign on to the statement and join the coalition of ongoing allyship. You can download the Allies for Uluru Statement of Commitment as a PDF here.
You can access the Assembly's National Reconciliation Week resources here.
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