Voice to Parliament: Pat Anderson & Megan Davis
2023 GANDHI ORATION
Pat Anderson | Megan Davis | Miriam Corowa
Co-chairs of the Uluru Dialogue, Cobble Cobble woman Megan Davis who first delivered the Uluru Statement from the Heart back in 2017 and Alywarre woman Pat Anderson who has spent decades advocating for Indigenous health, will deliver the 2023 Gandhi Oration.
When Anthony Albanese won the 2022 election, his first act as Prime Minister was to announce that under his leadership there would be a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Megan Davis and Pat Anderson have worked tirelessly to deliver the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are leading the campaign for the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The Voice to Parliament is more than just a symbolic gesture – it's a step towards substantive recognition and action on the greatest human rights issue facing Australia today. It rejects the idea of symbolic reform and instead calls for real, meaningful change to address the power imbalances that have long disadvantaged Indigenous Australians.
As we approach a referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, it is important to take pause and educate ourselves on what this vote means for Indigenous Australians and our country as a whole.
ABOUT THE GANDHI ORATION
Since 2012, UNSW Sydney has hosted the annual Gandhi Oration celebrating the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi as a champion of human rights. The Oration features discussions on the significant human rights issues of our time. Past speakers have included Senator Pat Dodson, Peter Greste, Pat Anderson, Shoma Chaudhury, Reverend Tim Costello, Rosie Batty and Shen Narayanasamy.
LIVE EVENT & VENUE INFORMATION
Sir John Clancy Auditorium is located at UNSW Sydney's Kensington Campus.
To ensure the health and safety of all patrons, face masks are recommended and please do not attend the event if you feel unwell.
ACCESS
Wheelchair Access
The closest accessible drop off point to the Sir John Clancy Auditorium is at Gate 9, High Street. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.
Assisted Listening
The Sir John Clancy Auditorium has a hearing loop. Please see staff for assisted listening seats, and please turn your hearing aid to T for reception.
Auslan & Captioning
This talk will be live captioned. Auslan interpreting services can be provided upon request.
To discuss access requirements and book selected services, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT & PARKING
The Sir John Clancy Auditorium is easily accessible via public transport. For more information call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.
Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’. For more information head here.
CONTACT
For all enquiries, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au.
The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. Internet relay users, visit relayservice.gov.au, then ask for 02 9065 0485.
Pat Anderson
Pat Anderson is an Alyawarre woman known nationally and internationally as an advocate for the rights and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She was Chair of the Lowitja Institute, Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute, for almost 20 years, and has extensive experience in Aboriginal health, including community development, policy formation and research ethics. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014 for distinguished service to the Indigenous community as a social justice advocate, particularly through promoting improved health, and educational and protection outcomes for children. She was Co-Chair of the Referendum Council that released its final report in 2017 and has since led the work of the Uluru Dialogue in partnership with the ILC UNSW. In 2022 she was a co-recipient of the Sydney Peace Prize for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Megan Davis
Megan Davis is a Professor of Law, holds the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law and is Pro Vice-Chancellor Society at UNSW Sydney. She is a globally recognised expert on Indigenous peoples rights and was a member of the Prime Minister’s Referendum Council and the Prime Minister’s Expert Panel on the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution. She designed the deliberative dialogues and chaired the Referendum Council’s sub-committee for the First Nations regional dialogues and the First Nations National Constitutional Convention in 2017. Since 2017 she has continued her legal work and community legal education via the Indigenous Law Centre UNSW Sydney. She was an expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2011–2016) and is currently an expert member and Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous peoples (2017–2022). In 2022 she was a co-recipient of the Sydney Peace Prize for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Miriam Corowa (Chairperson)
Miriam Corowa’s mob are the Minjungbal of the Bundjalung nation, on the far north coast NSW. A broadcaster, reporter, presenter and producer, Miriam has worked in the media since 2000 and currently co-hosts ABC News 24's Weekend Breakfast program. Pairing an avid interest in Indigenous affairs with general news, she has worked at both SBS and the ABC across programs such as World News Australia and Message Stick. Among the many highlights of her career are her roles co-hosting the ABC's The Apology live broadcast in February 2008, hosting the ABC's Gallipoli Dawn Service broadcasts from 2009 to 2011. She’s also co-chair of the Referendum Reference Group, which was set up by the Bonner Committee to assist with the ABC’s coverage strategy for the Voice to Parliament referendum.
