Come together for YES
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128, 25 August 2023, page no.17
Come Together for YES, a co-ordinated national day of action designed to encourage community members from across Australia to come together and show solidarity for the Yes campaign and the Voice to Parliament, took place on 2 July to coincide with the commencement of 2023 NAIDOC Week.
Many QTU activists and comrades from multiple unions heeded the ask – showing up and standing up at community events across the state. In the north of the state, “Yes” advocates Thomas Mayo and Jade Ritchie spoke at several Townsville gatherings, unpacking the overwhelming need for the community to be on the right side of history when they cast their ballot in the referendum.
At the Brisbane gathering, QTU General Secretary Kate Ruttiman responded to the question “Will you be on the right side of history?”, highlighting that this campaign is about more than the words “Yes” and “No”. It is about ensuring that Australia’s First Nations Peoples and their voices are “written into the fabric of our modern society” – the Constitution of Australia. The time for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people as the first peoples of this land is now. The people with the solutions to the issues facing First Nations communities are the First Nations peoples themselves, and they must be afforded authentic opportunities to offer advice to the government of the day as they make policy decisions that impact upon First Nations people.
Artefacts and packs will be sent to Reps in schools/workplaces to assist in the facilitation of culturally safe discussions about the referendum. Also keep an eye out for any local events that you and your families can join in with and share on your socials.
It is vital over the coming weeks that our members unite to ensure that there is greater understanding in the wider community that First Nations people need a mechanism that will offer practical solutions to disadvantage, rather than merely the symbolism of recognition.