On 1 May the ACC&C launched the book An Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Considering a Constitutional Bridge (Garrett Publishing) by ACC&C scholar Father Frank Brennan SJ, AO. The book was launched by Professor John Warhurst.
About the book:
Australians will soon be asked to vote in a referendum. They will be asked: Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? But, what is a Voice to Parliament, and why are we being asked this question? Frank Brennan, a Catholic priest and human rights lawyer, has been an advocate for Indigenous rights for 40 years. He was a member of the Langton-Calma committee on the co-design of the Indigenous Voice. In An Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Brennan outlines the difficult path travelled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and their supporters to get to this question. But is it to be a Voice to Parliament or a Voice to Parliament and to Government? Is the Voice to focus on those special laws made in relation to the First Australians or on any matters relevant to them? In An Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Brennan draws upon his extensive knowledge and experience to familiarise the reader with the journey that has led to this Referendum. He proposes additional ideas for discussion and, importantly, presents a balanced outline of both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ cases, enabling readers to be better informed before casting their vote. An Indigenous Voice to Parliament is a unique and informed analysis of this topical debate and is an ideal resource for those wanting to understand what an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament will actually mean
About the author:
Fr Frank Brennan SJ is a Catholic priest, a human rights lawyer, a member of the Jesuit Order and ACC&C scholar.He has been a long-time advocate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, commencing this public ministry as Adviser to the Queensland Catholic Bishops in 1982. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1995 for services to Aboriginal Australians, particularly as an advocate in the areas of law, social justice and reconciliation. He and Senator Patrick Dodson shared the inaugural Human Rights Award from the Australian Council for Overseas Aid. In 2015, he published No Small Change: The Road to Recognition for Indigenous Australia. He chaired the National Human Rights Consultation for the Rudd Government, was a member of the expert panel on religious freedom for the Turnbull Government, and a member of the Morrison Government’s Senior Advisory Group guiding the co-design process to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.Show less
