As the federal government prepares to hold the referendum on the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament sometime between September and December this year, Geelong council will host a series of events to stimulate community discussion on the issue.
Held between July and September, the council-run series of forums and community kiosks intend to offer locals the chance to share their perspectives and listen to those of others in an informal setting.
Community conversation forums will be held at the City’s Wurriki Nyal administration headquarters and, while free to attend, require registration via geelong.link/voiceforums.
Community kiosks at libraries and a planned series of informal pop-up kiosks around Geelong will not require registration.
Council also has a number of other education and information events in the works, with plans to announce them soon.
Acting Mayor Anthony Aitken, deputy chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships portfolio, said the events were intended to help to inform the community ahead of the referendum.
“It goes without saying that everyone is entitled to make up their minds on the Voice and vote as they see fit at the referendum,” Cr Aitken said.
“We want to help that process by opening up opportunities for the Geelong community to have respectful conversations about the proposed Voice To Parliament Constitutional Referendum, focused on education and dialogue so that everyone can feel fully informed before they vote.
“We encourage the community to attend these forums and kiosks, ask questions, put forward their viewpoint, and be open to the viewpoints of others.”
While the council has not officially announced its position on the referendum, it has been vocal in its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which called for a constitutionally-enshrined First Nations body to advise federal parliament and the government.
The next Voice to Parliament Community Conversation Forum will be held on Thursday, July 27 from 1-3pm, while the next Community Kiosk is at Boronggook Drysdale Library on Sunday, July 30 from 2-4pm. For a full list of forum and kiosk dates and times visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au.
