26 June 2019.

This May, U Ethical was delighted to join a group of 22 leaders in the finance sector in issuing a joint declaration for Australians to embrace the call in the Uluru Statement from the Heart for Indigenous recognition in the Constitution through a Voice to Parliament.

This initiative was led by Tanarra Capital investment analyst Dean Parkin, along with founder and chair John Wylie, who invited finance leaders to back the statement to mark the second anniversary of thousands of indigenous people from around the continent who gathered in Uluru to craft the historic document.

Released in May 2017, the Uluru Statement was drafted at the end of a three-day convention on constitutional recognition led by 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates. It says, in part, “With substantive constitutional change and structural reform, we believe this ancient sovereignty can shine through as a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.”

While some political leaders have been slow to get behind it, we and our co-signatories on the declaration believe that there is a groundswell of support among Australians for adopting the tenets of the Uluru Statement and our open letter is an important step in garnering long term community support.

Indigenous Australians face many challenges and entrenched disadvantage in our country and we hope you'll join us in looking for practical solutions to these structural and symbolic issues.

The chief executives' and chairmens' open letter in support of the Statement says:

Thank you for the Uluru Statement From The Heart.

We recognise the Uluru Statement as a historic mandate for substantive constitutional change and structural reform.

We hear and support your call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and for a referendum to achieve this as a national priority.

We hear and support your call for a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations, and truth-telling about our history.

We share your vision that these reforms will empower your people to take a rightful place in your own country.

In embracing this vision, we look forward to achieving a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.

We accept your profoundly generous invitation with open hearts.

We encourage others to join us as we walk side-by-side with you in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.

You can read John's recent opinion piece on the subject here (please note this is behind a paywall)