Indigenous Voice: WA Greens MP and former Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt announces his support

WA Greens MP Brad Pettitt — known for changing the date of Australia Day celebrations during his time as Fremantle mayor — has spoken out in support of the Indigenous Voice.

The former mayor said while the proposed body would not bring “all the changes” the First Nations population needs it is an “important step” that “most people in this country would support”.

It comes after Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe quit the Federal party over the referendum debate saying she wanted to advance the “Blak sovereign movement” and could not speak freely from within the Greens.

Mr Pettitt told The West Australian that he saw 2023 as “one of the most important years for reconciliation this nation has seen” and that “this could be a hugely unifying moment, and there is an unprecedented degree of momentum for reconciliation that we should seize”.

“While the Voice alone will not bring all the changes our First Nations population needs, it is an important step in the long journey to reconciliation this nation still needs to complete,” he said.

“Giving First Nations people a Voice on matters that impact them is, in my view, self-evidently a good thing and a principle I expect most people in this country would support.”

Mr Pettitt, however, said he had spoken with First Nations leaders from WA in recent weeks and that while most supported the Voice there were legitimate concerns that needed to be addressed.

“While most I have spoken with support the Voice, there are many who still have legitimate questions about how it will help First Nations people who experience big gaps in housing, health, imprisonment, and education — all of which need closing with urgency,” he said.

“The issue of sovereignty needs to be unambiguously clarified with publicly accessible legal advice so that more First Nations leaders feel comfortable supporting the Voice.”

Mr Pettitt said he and WA Greens Senator Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, were also pushing for the McGowan Government to progress a formal truth-telling process in WA.

“Most other states have taken steps on this important journey of Truth-Telling, but WA is lagging behind. This is critical work and should be urgently progressed alongside Treaty and Voice to work toward reconciliation,” he said.

“With progress on the Voice underway, WA must simultaneously progress the robust Truth-Telling process that is central to the Uluru Statement and fundamental to true reconciliation.”

Prior to entering State parliament, Mr Pettitt was mayor of Fremantle where he gained national attention after the council’s decision to move the date of its Australia Day celebrations following consultation with First Nations elders.

He said while this idea had been seen as “radical” at the time it was now “increasingly mainstream” which showed a “wonderful shift” in the national debate.

Mr Pettitt, however, also said he respected Senator Thorpe’s decision to quit the party.

“Lidia has always been a fighter for First Nations people and I respect her need to uphold the principles that she deeply believes in,” he said.

The Greens are yet to announce their formal position on the Voice, Senator Thorpe has also said she is continuing her negotiations with the Albanese Government.