Decision details

Moved by Councillor Maxwell, seconded by Councillor Weldon –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         in 2023, 6.2 million Australians voted ‘Yes’ to support a Voice to Parliament. Although a majority of Australians voted against the proposal, the City of Sydney community voted overwhelmingly in support;

(ii)        the City of Sydney advocated for a ‘Yes’ vote and supported the Yes23 Campaign with a program of information, communications and events,  developing broader community awareness and support;

(iii)      Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to call for self-determination and a voice to represent their own needs, in addition to treaty and truth-telling;

(iv)      the Uluru Statement from the Heart was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize, for its offer of peace from First Nations People to all Australians; and

(v)       the fight for Voice, Treaty and Truth is still as important as ever;

(B)      Council reaffirm support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and meaningful collaboration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community; and

(C)      Council continue to promote reconciliation and tackle disadvantage and systemic racism at the local level through initiatives that advance the core principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Carried unanimously.

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