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First Meetings of Referendum Working Group & Referendum Engagement Group

The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Media Release

Prime Minister
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Hon Linda Burney MP

Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP

Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart
Senator the Hon Patrick Dodson

Joint media release

The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.

The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.

They will provide advice to the Government on how best to ensure a successful Referendum and focus on the key questions that need to be considered in the coming months, including:

  1. The timing to conduct a successful referendum;
  2. Refining the proposed constitutional amendment and question;
  3. The information on the Voice necessary for a successful referendum

A second meeting will be held with the Referendum Engagement Group, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from the across the country, including: land councils, local governments and community controlled organisations.

They will provide advice about building community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.

Today’s meetings follow the Prime Minister’s landmark speech at the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land, where he released the possible wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and question on the Voice to be put to the Australian people.

Attribute to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“The constitution is our nation’s birth certificate. 

“It should be a source of pride that all Australians share this continent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, the oldest continuous civilisation on earth. 

“This should be recognised with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.”

Attribute to Minister Linda Burney:

“This is an important next step on the road to the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

“The work of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are front and centre in the decision making leading up to the Referendum.

“They will provide us with advice about how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community on this important nation building project.

 Attribute to the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus:

 “This Uluru Statement is an extraordinary act of generosity, friendship and reconciliation.

“The Referendum Working Group will work closely in partnership with government on the road forward.

Attribute to the Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Senator Patrick Dodson:

“This Group is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to go out and consult as we work to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.

We’ve got a clear plan to get us from Garma to referendum day.

The first step on that road is to listen to Indigenous Australians on how best to ensure we deliver a successful referendum.”

Referendum Working Group

Mr Dale Agius SA Commissioner for First Nations Voice
Ms Pat Anderson AO Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue
Ms Geraldine Atkinson Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Professor Tom Calma AO Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Chancellor, University of Canberra
Co-chair, Reconciliation Australia
Professor Megan Davis Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue
Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW
Mr Rodney Dillon Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Community Alliance
Mr Sean Gordon Managing Director, Gingee Group
Councillor, University of Newcastle
Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee
Co-chair, National Apology Foundation
Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Associate Provost, University of Melbourne
Mr Thomas Mayor From the Heart
Mr Tony McAvoy SC NT Treaty Commissioner
Barrister
June Oscar AO (ex officio) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Mr Dean Parkin From the Heart
Mr Noel Pearson Founder of Cape York Institute
From the Heart Advisory Group
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Ms Sally Scales Uluru Dialogue member
APY Artist
Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM Chairperson, Torres Strait Regional Authority
Mr Marcus Stewart Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Ms Pat Turner AM Convenor of Coalition of Peaks
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
CEO of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
The Hon Ken Wyatt AM Former Minister for Indigenous Australians
Professor Peter Yu AM Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Vice President, First Nations at ANU
Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM Chairman, Yothu Yindi Foundation

Referendum Engagement Group

Membership of the Referendum Engagement Group will include those on the Working Group and additional people including:

Mr Thomas Amagula Deputy Chair, Anindilyakwa Land Council
Cr Ross Andrews Mayor, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Nathan Appo Institute of Urban Indigenous Health
Professor Muriel Bamblett AO CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
Coalition of Peaks representative
Ms Jennifer Beale Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation
Professor Jack Beetson Australian Centre for Agriculture & Law – University of New England
Mr Dameyon Bonson Founder, Black Rainbow Living Well
Ms Wendy Brabham Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
Mr Paul Briggs OAM Executive Chair, Kaiela Institute
Mr Gavin Brown CEO PwC Indigenous Consulting
Mr Selwyn Button Chair, The Lowitja Institute
Mr Nicholas Cameron Chair, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance
Ms Shirleen Campbell Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group
Cr Danny Chapman Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Ms Fiona Cornforth CEO, Healing Foundation
Dr Josie Douglas Executive Director of Policy, Central Land Council
Ms Katrina Fanning PSM Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Tyronne Garstone CEO, Kimberley Land Council
Mr Mick Gooda Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Damian Griffis CEO of First Peoples Disability Network
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Ms Tanya Hosch Executive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy, AFL
Mr Paul House Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Gibson Farmer Illortaminni Chairman, Tiwi Land Council
Ms Deborah Katona Senior Manager Policy, Northern Land Council
Cr Esma Livermore Deputy Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Jamie Lowe National Native Title Council
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Dr Hannah McGlade Curtin Law School
Mr Wayne Miller Chair, Far West Community Leadership Group
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Cr Phillemon Mosby Mayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Kado Muir Activist & Impact Entrepreneur at Dilji
Social Anthropologist
Ms Karen Mundine CEO, Reconciliation Australia
Ms Teela Reid Uluru Dialogue Group
University of Sydney
Cr Matthew Ryan Mayor, West Arnhem Regional Council
Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Shane Sturgiss BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
Mr Ian Trust AO National Chair, Empowered Communities
Chairman, Wunan
Mr Les Turner CEO, Central Land Council
Dr Tracy Westerman AM Founding Director, Indigenous Psychological Services
Mr Richard Weston Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People (NSW)
Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Sammy Wilson Traditional Owner, Uluru
Former Chair, Central Land Council
Mr Scott Wilson Lead Convenor of SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Network
Coalition of Peaks representative
Professor Asmi Wood Professor, ANU College of Law