![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/BrownHoneyAnt-Uluru_Statement-Wikimedia-web.png\")
Hepatitis SA supports the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution. A constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait people a say on issues that affect their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hepatitis SA Chief Executive Officer, Kerry Paterson, said the trauma of colonisation and racist government policies over generations have resulted in excessive socio-economic disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are over-represented in the communities we serve including those in the criminal justice system, drug and alcohol services and those affected by viral hepatitis,\u201d she said. \u201cDecades of effort by governments to address the disparity has not closed the gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We believe it is not controversial for governments to inform their decision-making by listening to experts.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Voice to Parliament is a proposal from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe believe it is not controversial for governments to inform their decision-making by listening to experts. The experts on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities are leaders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA constitutionally protected Voice to Parliament provides a permanent channel of advice to government through which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can have real input into decisions affecting their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe urge our members to make an informed choice in the Referendum on 14 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t know, find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n READ MORE:<\/strong> On 5 June 2023, the Board of Hepatitis SA resolved to support the Voice to Parliament.Hepatitis SA accepts the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and welcomes the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"issue":[90],"ppma_author":[56],"class_list":["post-1354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","issue-issue-99"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
voice.gov.au<\/a> (also available in other languages)
ulurustatement.org<\/a>
www.yes.org.au<\/a>
www.sacoss.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/public\/SACOSS%20Uluru%20Statement.pdf<\/a>
www.aec.gov.au\/referendums<\/a>
Authorised by K Paterson, Hepatitis SA, 3 Hackney Road, Hackney SA 5069<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"