Bayside Council to hold community forum on Voice to Parliament

Bayside Council has organised a community forum to talk about the national referendum concerning constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This gathering will focus on the proposal for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, with the council providing a platform for speakers representing the 'Yes' campaign.

The forum, to be held at the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach in Brighton-Le-Sands, is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, 1 June, between 6-8PM. Registration is required as space is limited.

Notable First Nation advocates, Thomas Mayorf (Mayo) and Marcia Ella-Duncan OAM, will share the stage as panellists. Both of them have been involved in the development of the Uluru Statement proposal, advocating for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice.

Thomas Mayo is a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man, and the author and lead advocate for the Uluru Statement proposal for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice. In addition to his advocacy, Mayo serves as the Chairperson of the Northern Territory Indigenous Labor Network and holds an executive position at the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.

Marcia Ella-Duncan OAM, a Bidjigal-Yuin woman and a resident of Bayside, will also lend her voice to the panel discussion. Currently, Ella-Duncan is the Principal Consultant Indigenous Engagement and Senior Advisor for the Voice Co-Design Senior Advisory Group.

Ella-Duncan broke barriers as the first Aboriginal to represent Australia in netball in May 1986, playing against New Zealand in Christchurch. Her sporting career includes a silver medal at the 1987 Netball World Cup in Glasgow, Scotland. Recognising her significant contributions to netball, Ella-Duncan was awarded the 1988 Order of Australia Medal.

The forum's main objective is to discuss the importance of a First Nations Voice in the constitution. Following their initial discussion, the panellists will field questions from the audience.

At its November 2022 meeting, the Council endorsed the Uluru Statement From The Heart which in turn implies endorsement of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a Yes vote in the referendum.