National Australia Bank has pledged its backing for an indigenous Voice to Parliament, and may be the first bank (and one of very few big businesses) so far to do so.
Australia’s new Labor government is developing plans to hold a constitutional referendum on the long-mooted Voice before the end of the present parliamentary term.
“Meeting with indigenous leaders in recent months, some who were signatories to the Uluru Statement of the Heart in 2017, made it clear to me that corporate Australia has to listen and play its part in educating Australians on the proposed constitutional reform,” Ross McEwan, NAB’s CEO said.
“It is time to recognise the rightful place of our indigenous Australians as the First People of Australia, celebrate their culture and empower them to participate in shared decision making by including them in the decisions that impact them through the Voice.
“We look forward to working with and supporting indigenous Australians, governments and all communities across Australia to take this important next step towards reconciliation.”
The Voice is the substantive reform detailed in 2017’s Uluru Statement from the Heart, which prime minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to implement “in full” – though specific proposals and the draft text of any referendum question are still under development.
Media speculation suggests the government is leaning toward a late May 2023 date for the referendum.