John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice” might be the official anthem for the Yes campaign, but Benn Gunn’s latest single is a worthy unofficial option. “Let Their Voice Be Heard” is a plea for all Australians to come together as one and vote yes in the upcoming Voice referendum.
“It’s long overdue that we are proud of our indigenous Australians,” Benn enthused. “They’re the longest surviving culture on earth which makes them the greatest survivors in human history.”
I love how inclusive this song is. It’s a celebration of the notion of moving forward as a society, doing better because everyone is heard. The press release for this single explains that the feedback the Voice to Parliament could provide has the potential to save Australians hundreds of millions of dollars. The Federal Government currently invests around $4.5 billion dollars a year on Indigenous initiatives including health care and other essential services. However, the distrust some Indigenous Australians have of governments stemming from harmful policies of the past mean that even programs with excellent intentions can struggle to gain widespread acceptance in the communities they’re trying to help. With Indigenous elders offering their feedback on new policies and programs, we’re likely to see greater acceptance and outcomes. Surely that benefits us all. As Benn Gunn sings, “It’s time to come together and make a brand new start.”
Image used with permission from Checked Label Services