Atlassian cofounders and co-CEOs Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar have backed the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, saying it can “transfer us nearer to significant reconciliation” and a extra equitable nation.
In a notice to employees late final week, the pair mentioned that “empowering First Nations communities is one thing we’ve all the time believed in and backed in varied methods” and the referendum vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, set for later this 12 months, is “an extremely distinctive second” for the nation.
“As a proud Australian firm, we’ll be standing behind the YES vote,” they mentioned.
“We need to be clear – we’re not telling individuals the best way to vote; that could be a private selection. However schooling is important right here – and we wish each Atlassian in Australia to have entry to data and boards for dialogue, so you’re feeling ready and empowered to make your private resolution.”
Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar mentioned a few of their inner groups “will likely be sharing data by way of the Atlassian lens too” and folks “might want to perceive the influence that this resolution can have on themselves, on Atlassian, and on the nation”, including that “empowering First Nations communities is one thing we’ve all the time believed in and backed in varied methods”.
That features matching funding from the Atlassian Basis to assist the “Sure” marketing campaign within the Voice referendum.
“We’re taking steps to formalise how we strategy reconciliation at Atlassian,” they mentioned.
“Standing behind the YES vote is one other manner we will proceed this assist.”
The query being put to voters later this 12 months is:
“A Proposed Legislation: To change the Structure to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
The change would permit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice could make representations to the Parliament and the Government Authorities of the Commonwealth on issues referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It might not permit them to make legal guidelines, which stay the purview of elected politicians.
Whereas the Labor authorities below prime minister Anthony Albanese is campaigning on the sure facet, together with a number of Liberal politicians, most notable Senator Andrew Bragg, many on the opposition facet, together with the Nationals, oppose the referendum.
“We all know that is an emotive subject with plenty of various viewpoints and we perceive this is perhaps a tough dialog for some Atlassians to have interaction with,” Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar wrote.
“Irrespective of how you propose to vote, please search first to know each other, keep type, and be respectful.”
To succeed, the Voice referendum requires what’s often known as a “double majority” with a majority of voters nationally in favour of the proposition, as nicely extra greater than half of the voters in not less than 4 states additionally in favour.
If voters in three of the six states vote towards the proposal, it will fail.
The final time Australians voted in a referendum on the long run form of the nation was in November 1999, when greater than 60% of voters knocked again a plan for a republic not dominated by the British Monarchy.