Key Points
- Nepali community members explain their support for the 'Yes' vote.
- A peak body for Nepalis says a 'Yes' vote will create social harmony.
- Other members say they will vote 'No' because of a lack of clarity around the referendum question.
The head of a peak Nepali body in Australia says he believes a 'Yes' vote will help foster greater social harmony.
Sudarshan Thapa Magar is the president of the Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Forum Australia (NINFA).
Mr Magar emphasised the importance of treating all Australians equally and showing respect to Indigenous Australians, including supporting the Voice referendum.
"I absolutely support it; we, as Australians, should be able to lend our support to the voices of Indigenous people," he said
Understanding being 'indigenous'
In Nepal, 59 ethnic groups are officially recognised as indigenous peoples or indigenous nationalities under the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) Act of 2002.
In his capacity as an indigenous Nepali, Mr Magar said that he only came to fully appreciate the significance of his identity only upon his arrival in Australia.
"I did not engage with many indigenous individuals in my home country. However, after relocating to Australia, I gained a profound understanding of the importance of maintaining a strong indigenous identity," he said.
"When one enjoys societal recognition rooted in their cultural heritage, it fosters an enhanced sense of pride in embracing and living with that identity."
Transitioning from being an indigenous Nepali to becoming a part of Australia's multicultural community, Mr Magar said he believed that respecting Indigenous voices would ultimately foster greater social harmony.
"We came here from different countries, with indigenous or non-indigenous backgrounds, and formed a multicultural society. We are living, working, and raising our children in the land of people whose ancestors respected this land, and, if we support them, (I'm sure) they will definitely appreciate it,” he said.
Pratigya Adhikari, who works in child foster care for a non-government organisation, stressed the need for greater community awareness regarding generational trauma and the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
She said she sees the Indigenous Voice as a potential milestone for First Nations people.
"It can be a milestone to validate the rights and the trauma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Ms Adhikari said.
"I think this is a way for the Australian government to recognise the generational trauma Indigenous people went through."
'Lack of clarity' in referendum question
Keshav Kandel, the former president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association Australia, shared his perspective on the Voice vote.
He acknowledged the importance of supporting Indigenous communities but questioned whether enshrining a Voice would effectively contribute to their improved living standards.
"To integrate the Indigenous community into the mainstream is undeniably crucial," he said.
"However, what remains unclear to me is how the proposed Voice will directly uplift their living conditions."
Keshav Kandel has expressed his reservations about the clarity of the referendum question. Source: Supplied
Mr Kandel expressed his reservations about the clarity of the referendum question.
As of now, he said he did not find it clear enough to cast a vote in favour of the proposed Voice to Parliament.
He further explained his stance, stating, "As of today, unless I change my mind in the future, my vote would be 'No.' I believe that once something is enshrined in the Constitution, there's no room for correction if it turns out to be a mistake and we can’t say ‘I made a mistake’."
Not eligible to vote but still in favour
Nepali man, Balmukunda Timalsina, is not eligible to vote in this referendum but said he believed that by establishing the Voice to Parliament, the government was attempting to recognise the first people of the land.
“The government is trying to let people decide on the matter through the referendum. I am not a citizen of Australia, so I am not voting. However, if I were eligible to vote, I would have voted 'Yes',” he said.
While not eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum, Balmukunda Timalsina said he understood the government was trying to recognise the country's first people. Source: SBS / Sunita Pokharel
