Daniel Andrews has warned of the shared “cost of failure” ought to the Voice Referendum falter, addressing the packed Victorian Labor Conference on Saturday.
Joined by Anthony Albanese, the Premier urged Victorians to spend money on hope over hate, as an alternative of “marinating in the confected outrage of imported culture wars”.
“Far too often we’ve had a history of not listening — that needs to change, and it needs to change this year.”
The Premier went on to say earlier and present packages had been “not working”, and that higher outcomes could be achieved via Indigenous-led organisations.
“Huge sums of money are spent on programs that aren’t about listening to First Nations communities,” he stated.
“First Nations Australians already know what’s best for their families, for their communities, for their culture.
“They just need governments to hear them, not to tell them how it’s going to be.”
Mr Andrews additionally took a swipe on the Liberal Party for portraying the Referendum as an “act of division”.
“Unity comes not from ignoring difference, but from embracing it,” he stated.
“Strength lies in not being afraid to face uncomfortable truths.
“It’s only by accepting our nation in all its flaws that we can have any hope of bettering it.”
The Premier stated the connection between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians wanted to be rebuilt, making use of the identical foundational precept of “listening” to well being, training, justice, employment and housing.
“(Our history) has been in many ways, a history of injustice, of dispossession and removal of children,” he stated.
“Change won’t happen if we wait for some other time because the Voice isn’t just about Aboriginal people.”
The Premier stated the referendum possessed the facility to “heal our country” and known as on Labor members to throw their weight behind the Voice marketing campaign.
Mr Andrews additionally spoke of elevated funding for analysis and therapy of endometriosis and ladies’s ache administration, unveiling plans for an Aboriginal-led ladies’s well being clinic.
Sanitary merchandise corresponding to pads and tampons will even be out there without cost throughout the state’s public areas.
“Something our political opponents derided and criticised,” he stated.
“(This will) help normalise periods … and to make sure no one gets caught out without the products they need.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
