Council
18 September, 2023
Local forums held ahead of Voice referendum date
FEDERAL Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, held a series of community forums on the Voice to Parliament with retired businessman and seniors advocate Everald Compton last week, as the date for the referendum was announced.
The town hall-style meetings were held across Ipswich and the Somerset Region at the Leichhardt-One Mile Community Centre, as well as in Rosewood, Toogoolawah and Kilcoy.
It was during the Toogoolawah forum that the Prime Minister announced October 14 as the date for the Voice to Parliament Referendum.
The forums featured robust but respectful discussion around the Voice referendum with guest speaker and Voice campaigner Mr Compton keeping guests informed and entertained through his colourful stories and insights.
They provided an opportunity for many older and undecided voters to ask questions, check facts versus fiction, and listen to an inspiring Australian.
Now in his nineties, Mr Compton previously ran a global fundraising consultancy, and was the founding director of National Seniors. He has been a lead advocate for regional rail and often referred to as the “father” of the Inland Rail project.
Originally from Linville in the Brisbane Valley, he has a longstanding passion for Indigenous Affairs and was celebrated in the local history book Goondeen, which is an Aboriginal word meaning a wise man or father figure.
Mr Neumann said that the Voice was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally recognise First Nations Australians in our Constitution and make a practical difference for the future that will improve lives.
“The Voice will allow us to better listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the issues that affect them, so we can close the gap and deliver better results on the ground.
“On 14 October, I’ll be voting yes to make our great country even greater.”
Mr Compton said the Voice would deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
“In reality it is quite simply a positive step forward in integrating 65,000 years of heritage into our Constitution and our life as a nation.
“Creating a Voice is clearly a nation-building exercise that will benefit us all.”
