September 5, 2018
The Federal Government’s Joint Select Committee investigating Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be coming to Cherbourg.
The Committee presented an interim report in July but is continuing to hold public hearings in communities around Australia.
In its interim report, the Committee considered the proposal for a “First Nations Voice” which arose from the “Uluru Statement From The Heart”.
The Committee is interested in hearing further evidence about the structure, functions, and establishment of a Voice, and how such a body might best work to empower the local, regional, and national voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Committee is also interested in hearing evidence on other proposals for Constitutional change and proposals for truth-telling and agreement making.
The Committee will hold two public hearings in Canberra on September 11 and 18.
It will be coming to Cherbourg on October 12. Members of the community are welcome to attend.
Other public hearings will be held at Wodonga, Shepparton, Melbourne, Launceston, Thursday Island, Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane and Western Sydney.
Individuals or organisations who wish to speak with the Committee are encouraged to email the secretariat on jsccr@aph.gov.au
Further details about the hearings will be made available on the Committee’s website
The Committee is also seeking additional submissions examining the issues set out in the interim report, and addressing the questions posed in the final chapter.
These should be received by September 17.
The Committee is due to present its final report to the Parliament on November 29.
