As adults, many of us have voted in our first election, bought our first car or house, or had our first baby (or fur baby). Each of these “firsts” comes with a level of excitement and trepidation about the unknown. For those of us under the age of 41, a new “first” is coming: on 14 October we will participate in our first referendum.
Next month, all voting Australians will be asked to vote on creating a constitutionally protected Indigenous voice to parliament. The voice would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a say on the law and policy that affects their lives every day, through an advisory body representing the diversity of First Nations communities. It’s an exciting proposition, an opportunity to take part in making a permanent change to our political system to properly recognise the unique history, culture and experience of First Nations people.
