Thomas Mayo believes that a desire to give Indigenous Australians a fair go will ultimately triumph over unfounded fears of a constitutional crisis in the upcoming Voice referendum.
The Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man is facilitating discussions at Raymond Terrace, Maitland and Cessnock as part of the Yes campaign.
Mr Mayo, who co-wrote The Voice to Parliament Handbook with veteran journalist Kerry O'Brien, introduces his argument with a presentation about the history of the struggle for indigenous recognition in the Constitution.
It includes a run through of other statements and petitions that have called for a voice over the last 100 years as well as the voices that indigenous people have established in order to argue for better outcomes.
"It helps give people an understanding of the importance to us for constitutional enshrinement," Mr Mayo, who is also the Assistant National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, said.
"It will be inclusive, like other organisations are, and make strong representations that will be key to closing the gap in life expectancy, education, health outcomes, all of those things that are important to us as indigenous people and Australians."
Mr Mayo is among 20,000 Yes campaigners who are holding dozens of events across the country each week.
He said most people he encountered in his journey around Australia had been receptive to the argument for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
"They really want information," he said.
"They want to want to know if it's safe and whether it's meaningful.
"When we are able to explain that this is just an advisory body, but it's an advisory body that brings solutions from the communities in a way that we can not effectively do now, they tend to support it.
Mr Mayo will lead discussions at:
- St Johns Hall, Cnr Cathedral St & High St, Maitland, Saturday 19 August, 6-7:30pm
- Cessnock Leagues Club, 1 Darwin St, Sunday 20 August, 10:30am - 12pm
Results from the Resolve Political Monitor, published in the Sydney Morning Herald this week, showed support for the Voice had slipped from 48 to 46 per cent on the Yes or No question that will decide the referendum.
They also revealed that the Voice has majority support in Victoria and Tasmania but is opposed in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia
Hunter Workers secretary Leigh Shears encouraged Hunter residents to participate in informed discussion about the Voice and its implications for Indigenous Australians.
"Hunter workers have fought bosses for years to be consulted on matters that affect them in the workplace. The struggle for recognition and consultation through our Enterprise Bargaining Agreements rather than employers preferred company policy document that can be torn up on the whim of the boss," he said.
"We are seeing the same struggle play out for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Here".
