Religious leaders unite for Voice Referendum
Religious leaders urge politicians to work together across party divides to achieve a constitutionally guaranteed First Nations Voice.
February 22, 2023
The Uniting Church has joined a coalition of faith organisations calling on all Federal parliamentarians to co-operate across political divides in support of the upcoming Voice referendum.
Signed by UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis, the letter describes the Voice as “an invitation to move towards national healing, unity and reconciliation”.
“As leaders of Australia’s major religious and ethno-religious organisations, we call on Australia’s political leaders and all federal parliamentarians to support the Voice, called for by First Nations Australians through the Uluru Statement from the Heart."
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The alliance of nine national organisations represents diverse Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish communities, which have come together to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Their letter builds on the joint resolution released by the group in May last year, which urged bipartisan action on the Voice referendum.
The letter reads, "We call on parliamentarians to find ways to collaborate constructively across political divides to achieve the modest constitutional recognition First Nations people seek: a constitutionally guaranteed Voice in their own affairs."
"The Voice is an invitation to move towards national healing, unity and reconciliation. It seeks to formalise in our Constitution a way by which First Nations’ voices and concerns can be heard, and to establish a means for overcoming the devastating effects of social exclusion."
"This is an opportunity to unite Australians around a proposal that seeks to make life better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Religious leaders sign a historic Joint Resolution in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May last year.
The joint letter was sent on Wednesday morning as part of a ‘week of action’ in support of the Yes campaign for the referendum. It urges parliamentarians to to find ways to collaborate constructively across political divides to achieve the modest constitutional recognition First Nations people seek.
"Whatever our disagreements, let us work together to resolve them. The Voice referendum deserves cross-party co-operation," the letter reads.
"Future generations of Australians will not forgive us if we fail to grasp the historical moment, and ‘advance Australia’ further along the path of justice."
The letter reflects growing multifaith and multicultural support for the referendum. Indigenous film-maker Rachel Perkins, who launched the joint resolution last year, said “This is an alliance of great spiritual power, speaking persuasively to political power, and asking politicians to co-operate across political divides to achieve Indigenous recognition, for the good of my people and the country as a whole.”
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