G21 prepare for Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum

THE head of greater Geelong’s peak regional lobby is confident the alliance is ready for the coming debate and referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

G21 chief executive officer Giulia Baggio said she took a deep breath when she heard Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commit in full to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in his election victory speech, knowing it would have big implications for the organisation she presides over.

Moments after digesting the news, Ms Baggio said she took comfort with the knowledge that G21 had an established First Nations pillar working group comprising leading Indigenous community leaders from the region to advise the alliance on Aboriginal issues.

“We’ve created our own regional grouping and voice, and as things turned out in the election and Anthony Albanese getting going really early and saying ‘We’re going to have a referendum’, we’re set up already to be having those discussions regionally about what our people think.

“Organically, our regional First Nations People pretty much said we really want to come together and have a voice for the region, and they’ve done that organically ahead of what’s happening out of Canberra, so it’s just nice synchronised, fortuitous timing.”

Formed in 2022, the 32-member First Nations pillar held three meetings last year, and is comprised of Wadawurrung, Wathaurong and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Co-operative representatives, alongside senior figures from state parliament, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS), WorkSafe, The Gordon TAFE, Barwon Water, Deakin University, the City of Greater Geelong and other leading regional organisations.

The Prime Minister has committed to holding the national ballot on the issue in 2023, with reports it could be held as early as August, and the launch of the Yes and No campaigns are scheduled for February.

Ms Baggio stressed she was not speaking on behalf of the First Nations pillar – chaired by Adnyamathanha woman Marsha Uppill and which is yet to formalise a position on the Voice – but said it was “top of mind for me because I’m aware how fast everything is moving in this space”.

The First Nations pillar group’s next strategy meeting is scheduled for March.