Media response - Council position on referendum
Published on 24 August 2023
Approach from ABC News
I’m working on a story that’s a bit of a wrap looking at which Victorian councils have taken a position on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. I was hoping you might be able to get back to me on a few questions – I’m looking for a response by COB tomorrow, Wednesday 23 Aug.
- Is the City of Monash supporting the Voice, opposing the Voice, not taking a position or hasn't decided yet?
- If it hasn’t decided yet, when will it decide?
- Has or will the council set aside a budget to campaign for/against the Voice, and if so, how much and what exactly will it be spent on?
- Is there a statement or documentation you can provide of the council’s position?
Response
At its meeting in July, Council endorsed a motion outlining support for the Yes campaign in the upcoming Constitutional Recognition of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. This support is a continuation of Council’s ongoing work with Traditional Owners of the land that makes up Monash, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong People. It also follows the endorsement by Reconciliation Australia of Council’s first Reconciliation Action Plan and builds on Council’s previous public support in 2021 of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
We understand that not everyone will agree with this position and hope that, whatever their views, people will ask questions and seek information from reputable sources before voting in the upcoming referendum. We have information on our website to support people to do this and outline Council’s position.
No budget has been allocated to promotion or campaigning related to Council’s position.
Issued: 23 September 2023
To: ABC News
Quoting: Cr Tina Samardzija