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NewsAurecon declares Voice to Parliament critical for future design

29 May 2023 | 2 min

International design, engineering and advisory company, Aurecon, states unequivocal support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament (Voice) and looks forward to the pending referendum in a move it believes will further contribute to a reconciled Australia that protects and respects the world’s longest surviving cultures.

Aurecon Chief Executive Officer, William Cox, said Aurecon believes the constitutional enshrinement of a Voice is a critical step for First Nations people to fully express their views on important issues, including those related to design, engineering and advisory across communities.

Aurecon believes Voice to Parliament (Voice) will contribute to a reconciled Australia and is critical for future design.

"Aurecon’s position is consistent with our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and we hold a vision for a reconciled Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are respected, their success celebrated, cultures fully valued, and where social and economic opportunities between Australia’s First Peoples and all Australians are equal,” Mr Cox said.

“We fully appreciate there will be a range of views on this referendum, and we call for respect, diversity and inclusivity to be observed throughout the process. Within our Australian operations, we have been engaging internally since September 2022 on this topic, and we will continue to do so by sharing information on the significance of this decision and how it will impact our industry.”

"We hold a vision for a reconciled Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are respected, their success celebrated, cultures fully valued, and where social and economic opportunities between Australia’s First Peoples and all Australians are equal."
William Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Aurecon

Managing Director for Western Australia and Northern Territory Operations, and Aurecon RAP Leadership Team Co-Lead, Daniel Bree, said business can benefit from and contribute to meaningful change by implementing principles that value First Nations people, histories, cultures and futures, but more work can always be done.

“Designing communities and bringing ideas to life is the core of what we do as designers, engineers and advisors. While progress has been made on how we engage with communities to ensure Traditional Owners of the land feel a sense of belonging and empowerment in their communities, we also have a responsibility to advocate for positive change where we can,” Mr Bree said.

Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba man James Rafferty, Associate for Bridges and Civil Structures and Aurecon RAP Leadership Team Co-Lead, added his support for calls made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart for a Voice and Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling.

“Permanently strengthening the input of First Nations’ leadership will significantly empower First Nations voices, help bring their ideas to life and enable us to become better designers for the future. We all have a role to play in ensuring we create a pathway for First Nations people to fully participate in our communities, business and government, and this is an important step in our reconciliation journey,” Mr Rafferty said.

More information can be found in Aurecon’s 2022-2024 Reconciliation Action Plan as part of the company's broader plan to support, engage and give voice to First Nations communities.