Health Minister: How Voice will make a difference

A good doctor listens carefully to their patients to make sure their diagnosis is thorough and makes a positive difference to their healthcare.
 
A Voice to Parliament is simply that: a chance to listen to the voices of Indigenous Australians about better ways to make a positive difference to their lives.
 
The Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who offer advice to the Parliament on issues that particularly affect them.
 
As Health Minister, I can’t think of a more important area where we should listen to that advice than health. We need their insights so we can improve their lives.
 
Because, with the best of intentions and substantial investment from both sides of the Parliament, the current approach simply isn’t working.
 
Year after year, we hear the same reports of the yawning gap in health outcomes. There is an eight-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. Eight fewer years with loved ones, friends and family.
 
The referendum on 14 October is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally recognise the place of First Nations people in this country and improve their lives through a Voice to Parliament.
 
Dr Simone Raye, President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association says the Voice offers ‘huge potential to close the gap in unacceptable health disparities’.
 
Dr Raye says the Voice is the much-needed step to give Indigenous people a role in shaping policies that directly impact their future.
 
It’s not just Indigenous groups that support a Yes vote.
 
The AMA and RACGP also back the Voice to Parliament.
 
Professor Steve Robinson, President of the AMA, believes the Voice has the potential to deliver extraordinary outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
 
Dr Nicole Higgins, President of the RACGP, says the Voice will lead to better health outcomes and is a key step to closing the gap in health equality.
 
There is no doubt listening to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament will give us a clearer insight into how to better spend the taxpayer money that goes into First Nations health – getting better outcomes and better value for money.
 
I am confident that a Voice to the Parliament and to the Health Minister will help find better, more effective, practical ways to close the gap and allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to live longer, healthier, happier lives.
 
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real difference. And we know it will work because, when you listen to people about the issues that affect them, you get better results.
 
The benefits of voting yes are clear, but so are the consequences of voting no.
 
To vote no is to miss this opportunity. To close the door on the possibility of something better.
 
To vote no is to accept the status quo and vote for more of the same. The same approach with the same outcomes.
 
When you go to the polling booth on 14 October, I hope you have at the front of mind the opportunity the Voice presents to finally close the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Voice to Parliament