Statement on the First Nations Voice
Musica Viva Australia is proud to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the upcoming referendum.
By supporting a ‘Yes’ vote, we support a pathway for First Nations Australians to communicate with the government of the day about issues that affect their communities.
In taking this position, Musica Viva Australia recognises our ongoing commitment to reconciliation in Australia. We acknowledge that the stories we tell through our own music-making take place on ancient lands, where First Nations artists have sung, danced and told stories for thousands of generations. We understand the power of music to share truth, and we understand our responsibility to listen.
Musica Viva Australia pays respect to our First Nations colleagues, communities and peers at this time. We recognise that decades of advocacy, particularly the work of First Nations leaders on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, has led to this moment, and we recognise the invitation the Uluru Statement contains to walk together. We also respect the importance of listening to views from across all First Nations communities on this issue.
As the referendum approaches, we encourage everyone in the Musica Viva Australia community to listen openly and respectfully to all viewpoints about the Voice, to inform themselves, and to share balanced information about the Voice with their own communities.
