The Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report was prepared and researched under the leadership of two eminent First Nations Australians; Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO, and Professor Tom Calma AO, both of whom are Co-Chairs of
the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Senior Advisory Group. The group led and facilitated a nationwide consultation and facilitation process which built on the original Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Interim Report delivered to the Federal Government in 2020 and the Final report was delivered to the Federal Government in July 2021.
The Final Report was instrumental in shaping the discussions and deliberations that led to the legislation being passed in respect of setting up the Voice Referendum.
If you would like to download and read the full Final Report, please CLICK HERE.
The Forward of the 272 page Final Reports reads:
Across Australia, momentum is strong for an Indigenous Voice to the Australian Parliament and Government. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples want a greater say on the laws, policies and programs that affect our lives and non-Indigenous Australians support that call. In this Final Report of the Indigenous Voice co-design groups, we present our proposal for realising this urgent solution to the ongoing predicament of Indigenous Australians with a robust and feasible means of improving outcomes.
In October 2020, we presented the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Interim Report to the Australian Government. Since the release in January 2021 of proposals for an Indigenous Voice in the Interim Report, Australians from across the country have taken the opportunity to provide their feedback.
Over 9,400 people and organisations participated in a consultation process led by co-design members. This marks one of the most significant engagements with the Australian community on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs in recent history.
Over 4 months, we had conversations with people and organisations across urban, regional and remote Australia. As a group, we were fortunate to engage with people through 115 community consultation sessions in 67 diverse communities and more than 120 stakeholder meetings around the country.
We also gathered feedback online, with more than 4,000 submissions and survey responses put
forward by both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous individuals, communities and organisations.
The feedback provided tremendous support for an Indigenous Voice at the local and regional, and national levels. The core proposals set out in the Interim Report were affirmed, demonstrating the value of co-design to achieve effective outcomes. The feedback also helped improve proposals, with the National Voice membership model changed to increase the focus on remote people and communities.
We propose a strong, resilient and flexible system in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our communities will be part of genuine shared decision-making with governments at the local and regional level and have our voices heard by the Australian Parliament and Government in policy and law making. A voice to the Australian Parliament and Government would complement and amplify existing structures, and would not replace the
role for these structures to continue to work with Government within their mandates.
An Indigenous Voice will provide the right mechanism, working with and strengthening existing arrangements, for the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be heard on issues that affect us. The consideration of our vast experiences and diverse perspectives will lead to better policy outcomes, strengthen legislation and programs and, importantly, achieve better outcomes for our people.
Now, what lies before us could be the most significant reform in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for generations. We heard in chorus—from our own people, along with
non-Indigenous Australians—how much it would mean for Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples to have our voices heard. The importance of what we propose cannot be understated.
There was also strong feedback that an Indigenous Voice must be secure and enduring, and appropriately protected. While consideration of legal form was outside our co-design responsibility, we were not surprised by the growing support for constitutional enshrinement that was particularly evident in submissions. We heard many practical and principled reasons supporting the enshrinement of an Indigenous Voice in the Australian Constitution, including that it would be the best way to protect an Indigenous Voice against abolition, enhance its effectiveness and recognise the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our nation. Security and longevity for an Indigenous Voice were crucial elements of feedback received across the consultation process. The task for government is to consider how the Indigenous Voice will be protected.
As we deliver this Final Report, we are extremely proud of the efforts of the 52 co-design group members from across the country, who worked in partnership over the past 18 months—and through a global pandemic—to develop these final proposals for an Indigenous Voice. Together we listened, contested ideas and challenged ourselves to determine what might work best. On each issue, the co-design groups came to either a consensus or clear majority view. The results of this rigorous process are now presented for the Australian Government to consider in this report.
It is very clear that an Indigenous Voice is a necessary, pragmatic and natural step for our country as we work towards creating a better shared future for all Australians.
We commend this Final Report to the Australian Government with optimism that the proposals will be taken forward. A commitment to implementing these proposals will see conversation and co-design continue with communities across the country and involve governments at all levels coming together and working with us in partnership. This would provide a strong and lasting voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and be an historic step for our nation.