Have your say on the Indigenous Voice proposals
YOUR IPAA 
Letita Hope (Co-chair of the Indigenous Voice Local and Regional Co-design Group) with Professor Tom Calma AO (Co-chair of the Senior Advisory Group, leading the Indigenous Voice co-design process).
The Australian Government is inviting feedback from people, communities and organisations on proposals for the Indigenous Voice.
The proposals were the focus of a recent discussion between Professor Tom Calma AO and Letitia Hope at a webinar on Indigenous Voice hosted by IPAA ACT.
Tom Calma is Kungarakan on his mother’s side and Iwaidja on his father’s side, coming from Darwin and just outside of Darwin. He is currently the Chancellor of the University of Canberra, a Professor at the University of Sydney, and the National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking. Tom is also a Co-chair of the Senior Advisory Group guiding the Indigenous Voice co-design process.
Letitia Hope is a Bundjalung woman with kin ties to the Torres Strait Islands. She is currently the Deputy CEO for Operations and Delivery at the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and a Co-Chair of the Indigenous Voice Local and Regional Co-design Group.
With respect to the current consultation process on Indigenous Voice, Letitia said:
‘We really want people to engage with this material and put their voice to the table, consider the proposals, consider all the options and put their views and perspectives.’
Tom observed that the Indigenous Voice process has ‘been a good process, a positive process’.
‘I was impressed by the way that government officials have been very willing to work with us as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this co-design process.
And also to recognise the really clear distinction — this is not a government report; this is a report by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a report to Government on what we think should be the way forward.’
The Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Interim Report to the Australian Government was presented to the Australian Government in 2020, and released in full by the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP. the Minister for Indigenous Australians, in January 2021.
More information about the proposals for the Indigenous Voice is available from the Indigenous Voice website.
Two short animations have also been produced — the first animation explains the National Voice and the second animation provides an overview of Local and Regional Voice.
Those interested in having their say have until 30 April 2021 to complete a survey or make a submission on the Indigenous Voice proposals.
Indigenous Voice consultation sessions, hosted by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, are currently accepting registrations at a number of locations across Australia throughout April.
A recording of the Indigenous Voice Webinar hosted by IPAA ACT can be viewed below.