Photo: GetUp CEO Larissa Baldwin-Roberts
First Nations advocates supported by GetUp, Original Power and Australian Progress have been working on research over two years to deliver the Passing the Message Stick.
This framework is used for strength-based messaging that combines community led solutions to build support for First Nations self-determination and justice.
GetUp CEO Larissa Baldwin-Roberts joined Kirstyn Lindsay to discuss what messages need to be delivered on this year’s referendum not only in the media but with the campaigns for and against an enshrined voice to parliament.
This week the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023 has been passed in the Senate and within six months we will see the roll out on the referendum to vote on a constitutionally enshrined voice to parliament. Larissa Baldwin-Roberts explains what information is needed for people to make an informed choice and to share that information with family and community.
“In terms of what that body looks like, candidly what those things can do also hasn’t been decided yet.’ Larissa says ‘In a way where we talk about persuasive messaging it’s not just about agreeing or disagreeing with government it’s about saying what we stand for.”
With the referendum timeline speeding up, Passing the Message stick provides solutions to the unanswered questions and detail on what really is important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when it comes to understanding all of the outcomes of either a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote.
Larissa points out “In one hand Dutton’s no vote is creating enough confusion that people don’t know what they are voting for and on the other hand the Labor government isn’t telling us what is going to be the best model of representative of a democratic institution for First Nations people because they don’t know what it looks like.”
Larissa says she has a lot of empathy for community who feel they are forced to respond to something in such a short amount of time and discusses how this information can be strengthened in its delivery if there was more time.