Community discussions for Voice vote

THE City of Greater Geelong will host free community forums to discuss the proposed Voice to Parliament in the lead-up to the referendum vote in coming months.

COGG’s s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander senior policy officer Julie Saylor Briggs and other city staff will facilitate the conversation forums, which are described as an informal chance for residents to listen and learn from each other.

The city’s program will include four community conversation forums at its Wurriki Nyal headquarters during July and August, which require registration online.

It will also include ‘community kiosk’ outreach events at libraries across the municipality from the end of this month until late September.

All events are open to all community members to attend. Dates and times are available on the council’s website.

The council has not taken a formal stance on the Voice referendum.

In 2021, it wrote to the Prime Minister in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for a First Nations Voice enshrine in the constitution.

Acting mayor Anthony Aitken, who is deputy chair of COGG’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships portfolio, said the events aimed to inform the community about the coming referendum.

“It goes without saying that everyone is entitled to make up their minds on the Voice and vote as they see fit at the referendum,” Cr Aitken said.

“We want to help that process by opening up opportunities for the Geelong community to have respectful conversations about the proposed Voice to Parliament Constitutional Referendum, focused on education and dialogue so that everyone can feel fully informed before they vote.

“We encourage the community to attend these forums and kiosks, ask questions, put forward their viewpoint, and be open to the viewpoints of others.”

COGG has also flagged it is planning further education and information events featuring keynote speakers in the coming weeks.

Australians will vote on the referendum towards the end of this year, at a date to be announced.