As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led his party to victory on Saturday night, his first promise as the nation’s leader was to implement the Uluru Statement in ‘full’.
As the new Prime Minister took the podium in Sydney, shortly after Scott Morrison conceded, he referred to the Uluru statement twice in his victory speech.
“I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. And on behalf of the Australian Labor Party, I commit to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full,” he said.
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He also added while addressing the nation: "Together we can make forward equal opportunity for women a national economic and social priority. Together we can and will establish a national anti-corruption commission.
“Together we can be a self-reliant, resilient nation, confident in our values and in our place in the world. And together we can embrace the Uluru Statement from the Heart.”
The Uluru Statement from the Heart was created in 2017 by Aboriginal elders and calls for First Nations people to be recognised and established in parliament.
The initiative met with over 1,200 people across the country and devised a statement that recommends First Nations Voice in Parliament to help govern the policies regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities across the nation.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart reads: “In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”
In 2017, The Referendum Council advised the Australian government to establish this kind of governing body, however, a collective that would help with laws involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was unsuccessful.
However, as Albanese gets sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister, Australia will see a different kind of government with a Voice to Parliament being established.
News.com.au reports that Heart campaign director Dean Parkin said in a statement: “With a long and at times divisive campaign behind us, the new parliament has an opportunity to bring Australians together in a historic moment of national unity.
“During the campaign we welcomed Anthony Albanese’s and Linda Burney’s election commitment to hold a referendum on a Voice in the next term of parliament. That time has now come.”
Charisa Bossinakis