PowerHousing Australia has undertaken a comprehensive consultation process on whether we, as an organisation, should hold a position on the Voice to Parliament (the Voice). PowerHousing has conducted extensive consultation with Members, which includes: expert advice and guidance from Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), Reconciliation Australia, the Yes 23 and other peak bodies; discussion at out CEO Roundtables; a survey to Members conducted through June and July.

Based on this feedback and overwhelming support, PowerHousing’s Board has decided that to support the position to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Supporting this position considers our objects to promote the relief of poverty by facilitating the provision of affordable housing to people who are in need, including members of vulnerable and low to moderate income households. As we painfully know, first nations people are increasingly of low to moderate income, vulnerable to poverty, with future options limited and our promotion of relief of these challenges for indigenous Australians is a duty we must strive harder to reconcile every day.

Our support a position to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will be demonstrated in the form of:

• Providing public positioning for this through public statement.
• Identifying as a business supporter of the Voice proposal in any official campaign.
• Incorporating campaign information and our support for the Voice proposal into Member communications when appropriate.
• Being supportive of the proposal in the media as appropriate.

Irrespective of the result, PowerHousing will continue to be supportive of first nations people in the days following the referendum to be held between October and December. We will consider the impacts on indigenous Australians of a referendum result in the negative and seek to bring respect to the reconciliation with indigenous Australians for every day forth as it is a new day with new hope and opportunity.

Here are some resources for you to find further information on the Voice to Parliament:

• Voice.gov.au
• View The Statement – Uluru Statement from the Heart
• Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report to the Australian Government (niaa.gov.au)
• Joint select committee on constitutional recognition’s final report: Final report – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
• NIAA: Resources | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (niaa.gov.au)
• From the Heart – 15 minute module that educates and quizzes you on the Voice
• Voice to Parliament – Reconciliation Australia
• The Masig Statement – Malungu Yangu Wakay (Voice from the Deep)