Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Rohan Mead, said Australian Unity welcomes the bill’s introduction—with a referendum reflecting a significant first step in bringing about constitutional change and structural reform to realise the vision outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“A referendum to recognise an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament presents a historic opportunity and moment for our nation to acknowledge earlier wrongdoings and the continuing effects of past policies and practices on Indigenous people.”

“With a history dating back 180 years, we recognise our active contributions—through our antecedent organisations—to the thinking and design of the original Australian Constitution and other key founding artefacts of our modern nation,” said Mr Mead.

“We now recognise the shortcomings of these positively intentioned, but nevertheless, discriminatory and incomplete documents, and we embrace the opportunity to reshape the form and aspirations of the foundational documents of our modern nation.”

Mr Mead said as a large employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and provider of culturally tailored care to Indigenous clients through its Aboriginal Home Health business, Australian Unity plans to make real, meaningful and specific contributions to reconciliation.

“Through our business activities and our ongoing efforts to promote reconciliation detailed in our Reconciliation Action Plan, we stand with and join our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to strengthen support for recognising and valuing the ancient First Nations societies, who were substantially displaced and dispossessed by European settlement.”

“We warmly welcome and applaud the Parliament’s role in progressing and realising actions from the Uluru Statement from the Heart—which powerfully, graciously and warm-heartedly invites all Australians to be part of this important agenda.”

-ENDS-

 

Media contact:
T: 1300 408 776
E: media@australianunity.com.au

About Australian Unity
Established in 1840, Australian Unity is a member-owned wellbeing company with more than 385,000 members and more than 700,000 customers. Our range of health, wealth and care products and services provides member, customer and community value that is supportive of personal and community wellbeing.