Support for the Voice to Parliament is consistent with the organisation's advocacy for good law
The ACT Law Society Council has stated support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for the constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
ACT Law Society President Farzana Choudhury expressed that the council recognises the fundamental injustice in the constitution's failure to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples on these lands. The council acknowledges that its members hold diverse views on the referendum issue and should reach their own decision.
"In the leadup to the Voice Referendum, it is timely for legal professionals, in particular, to consider the legacy of our shared history. This includes the impact of laws and policies that have disproportionately affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," Choudhury said.
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The council's support for the Voice to Parliament aligns with its role in advocating for good law. The council supports this position because it recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia in the constitution. In addition, the proposed change seeks to provide a practical and proactive mechanism that will acknowledge and give power to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by advising the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As a constituent body of the Law Council of Australia, the ACT Law Society affirms its support for the Law Council's position on the Voice, which has been advocated since October 2017.
The council noted that expert panels and eminent legal experts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, have considered the proposed alteration. The ACT Law Society commits to continue sharing information and resources to assist its members in forming their own views on the upcoming referendum. The council further encouraged members to respectfully discuss the Voice among colleagues and the wider community.
"It is a matter for each of us to form our own views on the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. I encourage everyone to consider the significance of a Voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and what it hopes to achieve," Choudhury said.