On 14 October 2023 is the day Australians will be asked to vote on the ‘Voice’. With six weeks until the referendum, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) wishes to reiterate their stance contained within the 2023 Social Justice Statement Listen, Learn, Love – A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples:

Australians have an opportunity to begin a new chapter this year with the referendum on the Voice to Parliament.  NATSICC Members know there are criticisms, even from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support the referendum.

Just as the churches strongly supported the 1967 referendum, we hope that Catholics, along with other people of faith, will support the Yes campaign.

It is a commitment to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and promoting healing and unity. It will be the next step in a process of empowering us to participate in the decisions that will make a difference for the better for our people.

"We, NATSICC, feel that the referendum is too important to fail. The consequences for our people and the whole nation would be devastating," said NATSICC in a recent statement.

NATSICC encourages all Catholics to use visit the One Journey, Together website (www.indigenousvoice.church) as part of their own discernment.The website is a joint project between NATSICC, Caritas Australia and Catholic Social Services Victoria to help Catholics access information on the 14 October 2023 Voice Referendum. It contains the voices of First Australian Catholics and our Catholic Leaders and organisations.