“In my view, we have an opportunity to look after the health of our fellow citizens. It is akin to the story of the Good Samaritan. I am certainly going to use my vote in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,” writes columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

EMPOWERMENT and health go hand in hand. This is taught as one of the first tenets in any public health degree, and was the most persuasive element of my decision to be a “yes” voter.

More than 125 health organisations from across Australia have signed a pledge to support the Voice to parliament. Why? Because they understand the symbiotic relationship between health and empowerment.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have for far too long looked forward to poorer health outcomes than their non-indigenous peers. A child born into a family with European heritage has a statistical likelihood of living in the order of 10 years longer than a child born into an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander family.

As Australians, we pride ourselves on believing in a “fair go”. As of 2016, the average life expectancy for all Australian males was 80.7 years while for indigenous males it is 71.6 years. For women the same comparison was 84.9 years versus 75.6 years.

The commitment of a range of governments at all political levels to “Close the Gap” has achieved significant progress. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the life expectancy gap has closed roughly four months for every year between 2005 and 2017.

It is good progress. We can do better.

This proposed change to the constitution does not guarantee a right to dictate to governments. It simply empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples to be heard on issues that impact on their lives.

One of the most applicable (and amusing) memes on social media was of a young woman explaining why women believe they ought to be consulted on matters that specifically have an impact on their gender. She used the example of reproductive health.

This young woman was not seeking the power to make decisions regarding her reproductive health and the reproductive health issues for all women in Australia. She was simply explaining how sensible it would be if women were listened to before decisions being made that impact on their lives. 

She explained that she, and women like her, had a good understanding of what it is like to be a woman and to have to deal with the range of issues around reproductive health. “Just be prepared to listen” was the prime message of the meme. Just be prepared to listen!

This is also the main message for people heading to the polls for the referendum. Vote to ensure governments listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

I hear a chorus of voices arguing that many indigenous people do not want this. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have their factions. Surprise, surprise! Any group of people in a democracy will have differences of opinion and have the right to express those opinions. However, at least 80 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are seeking broad support from other Australians for a “fair go”.

As a reminder, in simple terms, the Voice to parliament proposal has come from indigenous Australians and requested that the Voice:

• Formally recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our constitution.
• Guarantees a Voice that cannot be repealed or abolished by government.
• Sets out the function of the Voice: to have a say on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Provides the detail of how the Voice will be designed: by the politicians whose job it is to do so after the referendum has passed, in a co-design process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The strongest argument for a “no” vote is the concept of introducing racism into our constitution. This is an argument about precedent. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a special place in our history and in our country. Applying this precedent to any other group in another referendum (and that is what it would take) stands Buckley’s chance of success. It is not an issue.

In my view, we have an opportunity to look after the health of our fellow citizens. It is akin to the story of the Good Samaritan. I am certainly going to use my vote in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Dr Michael Moore is a former president of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. He was a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health and has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.