'Yes' vote can lead to practical change

Sunraysia Daily, Mildura

A FIRST Nations Senator who grew up in the Mallee believes a resounding "yes" vote in the Indigenous Voice referendum will help re-write grim statistics.

Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman Jana Stewart is the youngest First Nations woman to be elected to Federal Parliament.

Ms Stewart said a Voice to parliament could lead to a future where students didn't have to hear Closing the Gap statistics, like she heard when she was in school.

"I was one of the only Aboriginal students in my class at Swan Hill College," the Labor Senator for Victoria said.

"As the teacher read aloud all the bad news on the health and life expectations of First Nations people, it felt like they were reading out my future as a First Nations woman.

"I was less likely to finish Year 12, I was less likely to go to university, I was more likely to be unemployed, I was very likely to get a chronic health condition and I was more likely to die 15 years younger than my peers sitting in the classroom with me." She said Mallee voters were positive and generous, and this referendum was an opportunity for unity, not division.

"I know first-hand that a First Nations Voice will create practical and lasting change on the lives of Aboriginal people in the Mallee," Ms Stewart said.

"It will give us a say in the matters that affect our communities across Victoria and the nation.

"A First Nations voice to parliament is an opportunity for the Australian people to walk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards a better future for all Australians." The last successful referendum in Australia was in 1977 and only eight out of 44 referendums to amend the constitution have passed since 1901.

For the "yes" vote to pass, both a majority of voters, and a majority of voters in at least four out of the six states, need to be in favour of the proposal.

Ms Stewart said she felt optimistic that Australians support reconciliation and "giving First Nations people a fair go", but feared the next few months would be hard as the proposal continued to be debated publicly.

"Some will use this time to try and divide us as a nation," Ms Stewart said.

"But we must stand together - this is above politics.

"The resignations of (Liberal Party figures) Ken Wyatt and Julian Leeser (showed) they want to be on the right side of history, while the rest of the Liberal-Nationals have chosen to stand on the wrong side of history by saying 'no' to a First Nations Voice."

Caption Text:
Senator for Victoria Jana Stewart said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice was a chance to change the kinds of statistics she was told growing up in the Mallee.