Press release
Grant Thornton supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart
16 May 2023
The Uluru Statement from the Heart invites all Australians to walk with First Nations peoples by enshrining a voice in the Australian Constitution and the establishment of a Makarrata Commission.
Derived from the language of the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land, Makarrata means two parties coming together to reach agreements – in this case, it is between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the Federal Government.
Grant Thornton Australia supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, continuing the firm’s active participation in the reconciliation process. With an opportunity to enshrine a voice in the decision-making of this nation to achieve justice, the firm recognises the importance of showing respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through this process.
As part of its commitment to reconciliation and to show support for a First Nations Voice, Grant Thornton provided an opportunity for its people to gain a deeper understanding of the proposed changes. The firm welcomed Kenny Bedford of the YES23 Campaign – a Traditional Owner from the Meuram Clan of Erub in the Torres Strait Islands – to speak with their people on the importance of creating a pathway for Indigenous voices to be heard in Parliament and to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. Kenny shared his extensive cultural knowledge and educated attendees about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in an internal broadcast with Grant Thornton CEO, Greg Keith.
“We need to work together to build this nation for our future and the generations to come. The Uluru Statement from the Heart provides a pathway to achieve this, supporting all Australians in understanding our true history and developing deeper foundations for us all to move forward in reconciliation,” said Greg Keith, Grant Thornton CEO.
While it may be a challenging time in this country, Grant Thornton recognises the opportunity for the nation to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about the challenges facing their community, with a hope to change what wasn’t originally enshrined in our constitution to better reflect our journey of reconciliation.
“This is going to be a year of opportunity, but also a challenging year as Australia debates a decision to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in matters that directly concern their peoples,” Greg Keith continued.
With a strong commitment to walking together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Grant Thornton supports the independent voice protected by the constitution and acknowledges the impacts it will have to self-determination and ensure a path of reconciliation for a better future for all Australians.
Experts / Authors
Ailish Parr
Communications Manager at Grant Thornton Australia
