Albany and Katanning community events aim to better inform communities ahead of Voice referendum

Long-time First Nations rights advocate Fred Chaney is urging communities to take advantage of events this week to better understand what they will be voting on at next month’s referendum. Reconciliation WA will host events in Albany and Katanning which being promoted as an opportunity to better understand the Voice to Parliament as well as the Uluru Statement From the Heart. Mr Chaney, who was a Federal MP from 1974 to 1993, said it was a “very significant question” that was being put to the people and that they should be as well informed as possible. He said the events would be a chance to listen and share views because the notion of the Voice was “getting lost in the whole political fog”. “It’s pretty simple, the proposition is to put a message into the constitution which says Governments should listen before they act,” he said. “It’s not putting any power into the Constitution on the part of an Aboriginal organisation except to say they should have a chance to be heard.” He said he had been a part of several of these kinds of forums and was always interested in hearing the concerns of people so that he could help allay them. “One of the bits of information I come across is that if it’s in the constitution its can’t be changed – well that’s specifically not the case,” he said. “The parliament will remain in control of its composition and function, and if it needs to be adjusted it can be adjusted.” While he was in Federal Parliament, Mr Chaney spent time as the Aboriginal Affairs minister. He said he spent a lot of time taking messages from Aboriginal communities to Canberra. “I know just how difficult it is to get those messages through,” he said. “The previous government asked the productivity commission to look at the closing the gap agreement of 2020 and that productivity commission reported just a couple of months ago that governments are still finding it hard to listen. “Something like the Voice could be very useful in giving a very clear signal to Government that they should listen as well as act.” Local speakers will also speak at the event, as will Thomas Mayo, a signature to the Uluru Statement From the Heart. He said regional communities already understood what it was like to not be heard. “Regional Australians are often forgotten by politicians who concentrate on winning urban voters,” he said. “When the most marginalised of all Australians, Indigenous people, have a Voice, it is a step in the right direction for all of us. “All policy areas are linked, housing effects health for example, and a Voice can take an overarching wholistic approach to policies that understands the barriers to better outcomes for regional communities.“ The Albany event will be held from 12.30pm to 2pm on Friday at the Albany Entertainment Centre. Katanning’s event will be hosted in the the Town Square from 10am to 11.30am on Saturday. Both events are free to the public, but those interested can register their attendance beforehand online.