23 September 2023
MEDIA RELEASE
Chinese Community Hosts Forum to Promote Understanding and Support for the Indigenous Voice
Shortly after the announcement of the referendum date as 14th October, on the Saturday afternoon of 9th September 2023, about seventy community members gathered at Box Hill Town Hall to participate in a community Q&A forum on the Indigenous Voice Referendum. This event was organised by the Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV).
Paul Hamer MP, the local member for Box Hill, opened the community forum by expressing his support for the Indigenous Voice and emphasising the need to understand its significance over the next five weeks leading to the referendum.
The forum proceeded to feature three speakers who passionately voiced their support for the Indigenous Voice. These speakers included Marcus Stewart, a member of the First Nations Referendum Working Group, Wesa Chau, a member of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians, and Jimmy Li, President of CCCAV.
After the main speakers and some questions and answers, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addressed the forum, emphasizing that voting Yes is not only the smart thing to do but also the right thing to do.
We believe that the referendum question regarding the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia through a Voice is a modest, simple, clear, well-defined, safe and beneficial proposal.
We urge voters from the Chinese community to vote “Yes” in this referendum. This is to show respect and recognition for the Indigenous people who have lived on this land for over 65,000 years. It is an opportunity to genuinely improve the lives of Indigenous communities through listening, to heal historical wounds and promote reconciliation, and to strengthen the multicultural environment.
To promote a fairer and more harmonious multicultural society aligns with the long-term interest and well-being of the Chinese community. The Chinese community, which demonstrates a strong sense of justice and compassion, will undoubtedly gain greater respect in Australian society. Let us look to the future together with all communities and work together for a brighter tomorrow.
华人社区举办论坛，促进对原住民之声的理解和支持
在宣布公投日期为10月14日后不久，在2023年9月9日的星期六下午，大约七十名社区成员聚集在博士山市政厅，参加了由维州澳华社区委员会（CCCAV）组织的有关“原住民之声公投”的社区问答论坛。
博士山选区州议员保罗·海默(Paul Hamer)先生，在社区论坛上发表了开幕词，表达了他对原住民之声的支持，并强调了有必要在接下来的公投日之前的五周中充分了解其重要性。
随后三位发言人充满激情地表达了他们对原住民之声的支持。这些发言人包括马库斯·斯图尔特(Marcus Stewart)先生，联邦原住民公投工作组成员；邹慧心女士，40位40岁以下最有影响力的亚裔澳大利亚人之一；以及维州澳华社区委员会主席李健民博士。
在主要发言人演讲和一些问答环节之后，维多利亚州州长丹尼尔·安德鲁斯发表了演讲，强调投票支持原住民之声是明智之举，也是正确之举。
我们相信，这个通过建立一个咨询机构以承认原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民为澳大利亚的原住民族的公投问题是一个谦逊、简单、清晰、明确定义、安全且有益的建议。
我们呼吁华人选民在这次有关原住民之声的修宪公投中投Yes。这是为了尊重和承认在这片土地上生活了超过6万5千年的原住民，为了通过聆听来实际改善原住民的生活，为了治愈历史伤痛和民族和解，以及为了巩固多元文化的环境。
促进一个更加公正和和谐的多元文化社会与华人社区的长远福祉是一致的。充分展现正义感和同情心的华人社区也必将在澳洲社会中赢得更多的尊重。让我们与各个民族一起面向未来，共同创造更美好的明天。
维州澳华社区委员会(CCCAV)
