Anthony Albanese has signaled for the first time that the government still plans to carry out two key requests in the Uluru Declaration from the Heart following the defeat of The Voice.
In his Closing the Gap statement to Parliament on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the federal government “will take the time to get Makarrata and tell the truth correctly.”
Makarrata and truth-telling are the remaining aspects of the Uluru Declaration of the Heart, which sought “Voice, Treaty and Truth.”
A Makarrata commission (named after the Yolgnu Indigenous word meaning “to come together after a fight”) would seek a treaty between the federal government and the First Nations community. The government disbursed $27.7 million in the last budget for said commission.
The ‘culmination of the agenda’ is actually a ‘Makarrata Commission’ that would seek a treaty between the government and First Nations communities.
Meanwhile, “telling the truth” involves a process in which Australia confronts its history of colonial conflict and dispossession.
Albanese acknowledged the defeat of the Voice referendum in his speech and said his government would respect the result.
But he added: “The Government remains determined to advance reconciliation and seek better outcomes for Indigenous Australians.”
‘As we take the time to get Makarrata and truth-telling right, Treaty work continues at state and territory level.
“It will be a diversity of processes that will reflect the diversity of First Nations across the continent.”
He said the government would respond to those processes.
Albanese (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) acknowledged the defeat of the Voice referendum in his speech and said his government would respect the result.
It would also focus on their responsibilities for closing the gap, self-determination and tangible results in jobs, housing, education and justice.
All states voted No to the Voice to Parliament proposal last October, with only ACT voting Yes.
Labor has been criticized for failing to advance indigenous policy after the failure of Voice. This despite having reserved $27.7 million from the last budget to face a Makarrata Commission.
The Makarrata Commission was designed to advance both treaties and truth-telling at the federal level, but stalled during the Voice campaign amid concerns about what a treaty – or treaties – might look like in practice.
Work on the commission remains on hold while the government recalibrates and seeks advice on next steps.