NRL backs ‘yes’ campaign for Indigenous Voice to Parliament
The NRL has become Australia’s first major footy code to back the ‘yes’ campaign in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
The NRL* has become Australia’s first major footy* code to back the “yes” campaign in the Voice to Parliament referendum*, with officials confirming their position ahead of the league’s Indigenous round.
The NRL announced its support for the Voice on Tuesday, following the Australian Olympic Committee and Tennis Australia as the latest sporting body to throw its support behind the proposal to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait advisory body in the constitution.
This means that the NRL supports a change in Australian law to make sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people* have a say in important decisions that affect their lives.
The NRL said they have been proud supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart*, a document created in 2017 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that first proposed the Voice.
“First Nations communities have deep bonds with Rugby League and are part of our fabric at all levels, from grassroots* participants and fans to the Indigenous stars who light up the NRL and NRLW,” the NRL said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The NRL has had its own independent voice since the commencement of the Australian Rugby League Commission*. The Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council* (ARLIC) plays an integral role in making representations to the ARLC with ideas and views on behalf of Indigenous peoples across the game.
“True change comes through listening, learning and taking action – and we encourage everyone in the Rugby League community to get informed by the facts, and use their voice, so that we can move forward together.”
It is understood player groups were due to be briefed ahead of the announcement, which comes two weeks before the NRL’s Indigenous round.
This round celebrates and honours the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and culture in the NRL.
The Voice to Parliament will be voted on by the Australian Parliament in June, then there will be a referendum between October and December. A referendum is a special vote where every adult in Australia votes on whether they want a change to happen.
Last month the AFL* meanwhile distributed a memo* to all clubs urging them to advise if they would support the Voice ahead of the referendum.
“We invite and encourage you to advise us if your club will be taking a position to support the referendum yes campaign,” the memo* sent by AFL Inclusion and Social Policy* general manager Tanya Hosch said.
“As the AFL will be considering this in the coming weeks, your advice on this will be gratefully received.”
So far the West Coast Eagles and Collingwood are the only two AFL clubs to publicly confirm their support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Individual sporting personalities including Cathy Freeman, Johnathan Thurston and Eddie Betts are among a growing number of high profile Australians* who support the referendum.
Some people are against the Voice to Parliament. They have created two groups, Fair Australia and Recognise a Better Way*, to try to stop the change from happening.
But these two groups have decided to join together under a new name, Australians for Unity*, to make their campaign stronger.
UPDATE: MORE THAN 20 CODES PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR YES VOTE
More than 20 of Australia’s biggest sporting bodies have since pledged support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in an open letter, declaring sport “plays a significant role in reconciling Australia”.
The unprecedented* move came after the NRL and other codes gave their complete support for a yes vote at this year’s referendum and urged “sports fans of Australia” to unite in a similar fashion.
Governing bodies of the AFL, NRL, Cricket Australia, Football Australia, Rugby Australia, Golf Australia and the NBL were among the signatories* to the letter that rugby league legend Mal Meninga said was about “taking action”.
“I feel privileged,” he said in Sydney. “I think it’s a celebration and it’s a significant issue in Australian history.
“I can’t see anything wrong with it — listening to the voice of the First Nations people. Learning from them and learning from their past and taking action with them.
“This is not a case of doing this for them or on behalf of them. It’s about taking action with them and I think that’s generally how we operate in sport. You bring your team along with you. You act collectively* to achieve success. I can see great benefit in it. If you know your history, this should have been done 100 years ago.”
WHAT THE LETTER SAYS
The letter urged sports fans and participants to unite for the greater good.
“Sport has always served as a unifying* force for our diverse Australian society,” the letter states.
“Regardless of where we come from or what we believe in, sport brings people together in the spirit of achievement, community and celebration.
“Moreover, sport plays a significant role in reconciling Australia.
“It has long been a means for the inclusion* and celebration of the incredible achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“This year, all Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution* by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
“We, as a collective, support recognition through a Voice.
“We believe our nation can achieve this profound* recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first peoples of our country in our Constitution.”
“We encourage all Australians who love sport to listen with an open heart and an open mind through this historic moment.
“We respect that everyone is entitled* to reach their own decision come the referendum.
“Together we share a vision for the future as a nation that values equity*, fairness and the rights of the traditional custodians of our land.
“The land on which we play, love and celebrate sport in Australia.”
GLOSSARY
- NRL: National Rugby League, which is a professional rugby league competition in Australia
- footy: slang term for football or rugby
- referendum: a special vote where everyone in Australia can vote on a proposed change to the law
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: the Indigenous people of Australia who have lived in the country for thousands of years before European settlement
- Uluru Statement from the Heart: a document created in 2017 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that proposes a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians
- grassroots: the basic level or foundation of something, in this case, it refers to the participants and fans at the local level
- Australian Rugby League Commission: the governing body of the National Rugby League in Australia
- Indigenous Council: a group that represents Indigenous people in the NRL and advises the Australian Rugby League Commission
- constitutionally enshrine: to include something in the constitution of a country
- AFL: Australian Football League, a professional Australian rules football competition in Australia
- memo: a written message or communication
- Inclusion and Social Policy: a department of the AFL that is responsible for promoting inclusivity and social justice
- high profile Australians: people who are well-known or famous in Australia
- Fair Australia and Recognise a Better Way: two groups that are against the Voice to Parliament proposal
- Australians for Unity: the new name of the merged Fair Australia and Recognise a Better Way groups, which are campaigning against the Voice to Parliament proposal
- unprecedented: never done before, something that’s never happened or existed in the past
- signatories: people or organisations that have signed a document
- collectively: as a group, as a whole, together
- inclusion: allowing many different types of people to do something and treating them equally
- unifying: bringing together, combining, causing people to unite
- Constitution: principles and laws of a nation or nation, especially the rights of the people
- profound: felt or experienced very strongly
- entitled: has the right to do certain things
- equity: quality of being fair, just, impartial
- custodians: those responsible for taking care of something
EXTRA READING
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QUICK QUIZ
- What is the NRL supporting in the Voice to Parliament referendum?
- Name other groups that have shown their support for the Voice to Parliament
- What is the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and why is it important to the NRL?
- What is the Indigenous round in the NRL, and when does it take place?
- Are there any groups or individuals against the Voice to Parliament, and if so, what is their campaign called?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
LISTEN TO THE UPDATE
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What do you think?
Some people have said that sportspeople should not talk about issues like the Voice to Parliament Referendum. What do you think? Write FIVE convincing arguments for or against this opinion.
Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Civics and Citizenship; Health and Physical Education
2. Extension
"True change comes through listening." Write a story or create an artwork inspired by this statement.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Civics and Citizenship; Visual Arts
VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.
Think about:
What is the main topic or idea?
What is an important or interesting fact?
Who was involved (people or places)?
Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.