Greater Shepparton City Councillors have taken a united stand over this year’s referendum on a Voice to Parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Councillors voted unanimously at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 15 to support the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
The motion was moved by Cr Anthony Brophy, who tried to answer the question he anticipated from many residents, of why council should take a stand when the referendum would only count the votes of individuals.
“Because people in our community have asked us, as leaders in the community, to form a stance and let the public know,” he said.
“It will say much about Australia should this referendum be unsuccessful. Far more than if it is successful.”
Cr Dinny Adem seconded the motion and told the meeting First Nations Australians had always had a voice, but had not always been listened to, making the constitutional change a vital element.
“There’s all sorts of committees and organisations (that) nominally speak to state and federal governments on an ongoing basis; however, altering the constitution to ensure that voice is permanent, I think that’s the key factor in this whole argument here,” he said.
“That cannot be taken away.”
Cr Fern Summer said a Voice to Parliament would not be able to force mainstream Australia to do anything, but it could be persuasive.
“I am supporting this motion because I can’t see any reason not to,” she said.
“I’m actually struggling to understand why anyone would oppose the Voice.
“The Voice in itself is merely an advisory role. There is no direct power.”
Another to speak in favour of the motion was Cr Seema Abdullah, who said it was important that council supported Greater Shepparton’s Indigenous population.
“By endorsing this motion, this council will be on the right side of history,” she said.
“That is to take a strong leadership position and provide the leadership in this matter instead of being a follower of misinformation, disinformation or various politicised narratives that are misleading.”
Mayor Shane Sali said he was shattered that Yorta Yorta man Cr Greg James was unable to attend the meeting for what he described as “arguably a significant moment, not only for him, but also the local First Nations community”.
“For me personally, and what I encourage every community member out there (to do) before you go and make your decision, is engage with someone that you feel comfortable to speak to about this particular decision that is going to be upon us before the end of the year, and that is what I chose to do,” he said.
Cr Brophy also paid tribute to the role Cr James had played, saying council was in a privileged position to have the contribution of one of only two First Nations councillors in Victoria.
“We’re all so much the richer for his considered input, but this is much bigger than Cr James,” Cr Brophy said.
“I ask the question, if we do not support our First Nations councillor or our First Nations people in Greater Shepparton, then who will?”
Speaking after the meeting, Cr Sali said the motion was council’s way of showing its support for the local community.
“As a group of councillors, we feel that it’s important, and obviously with Cr Greg James sitting on council and being a strong advocate and asking for support, we felt that it would be appropriate for us to not only support Cr Greg James, but the largest (Victorian) Indigenous community outside metropolitan Melbourne,” he said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Cr James thanked his fellow councillors for their support.
“I want to thank my fellow councillors for supporting this decision,” he said.
“It is vitally important that we continue to support our First Nations community here in Greater Shepparton.”
Councillors Sam Spinks, Geoff Dobson and Ben Ladson did not speak to the motion, but did vote in favour of it.