Late Items Agenda of Council - Monday, 10 July 2023

Council 10 July 2023 Item 8.1

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.1

SUBJECT The Voice Constitutional Referendum

REFERENCE F2022/03176 - D09040746

REPORT OF Lord Mayor Councillor Sameer Pandey

CSP THEME: ACCESSIBLE

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Lord Mayoral Minute is to seek support for and open discussion of the upcoming referendum to alter The Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council notes that the Prime Minister has committed to holding a referendum between October-December 2023 to determine whether to alter The Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

(b) That Council demonstrates and promotes open, respectful and constructive dialogue during discussion of the referendum vote that upholds cultural safety and acknowledges the diversity of views within the City of Parramatta community.

a. The First Nations Advisory Committee, with whom Council has consulted, and is yet to endorse a formal position on the proposed constitutional change;

b. Dharug peoples; and

c. First Nations people with connections to this country.

(d) That Council waive the hire fees for Council venues (to a total budget waiver of $10,000) to facilitate open public discussion on the proposed change in the lead up to the referendum and invite applications from community representatives from all sides of the debate, noting that applications must be for purposes consistent with this resolution and operate in line with Council’s Facilities Hire Terms and Conditions.

(e) That Council notes its existing agreement with Western Sydney Community Forum to coordinate and deliver a balanced program to the community of neutral information, local education and awareness raising activities on the referendum.

(f) That, consistent with Council’s previous resolution of 28 March 2022 to support Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the key principles of the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’, Council support the proposed change to The Constitution as set out by The Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, passed on 19 June 2023.

BACKGROUND

1. The Australian Constitution is a document that outlines the fundamental principles for the system of government in Australia. The only way to change The Constitution is by holding a referendum. This means The Constitution cannot be altered without ‘the approval of the people’.

2. On 22 May 2022, the then Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese MP addressed the Australian people regarding his Federal election victory and declared that “together we can embrace the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We can answer its patient, gracious call for a voice enshrined in our Constitution.”

3. On 23 March 2023, Prime Minister the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP announced the wording of the referendum question, noting that “this referendum is an historic democratic opportunity for a unifying Australian moment.”

4. On 19 June 2023, the Parliament of Australia passed the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. This agreed that the Constitutional amendment and question would be as follows:

a. On referendum day, voters will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a single question. Subject to the Parliament's approval, the question on the ballot paper will be:

i. “A Proposed Law: to alter The Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

b. The proposed law that Australians are being asked to approve at the referendum would insert the following lines into The Constitution:

i. “Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

i. In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

1. there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

2. the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

3. the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”

5. In recognition of the diversity of views within the Parramatta community and the importance of cultural safety, Council aims to demonstrate and promote open, respectful and constructive dialogue during discussion of the referendum vote.

6. Council acknowledges the lived experiences and voices of First Nations people, particularly; the First Nations Advisory Committee, with whom Council has consulted (and is yet to endorse a formal position on the proposed constitutional change), Dharug peoples and First Nations people with connections to this country.

7. Council is developing a First Nations Strategy in consultation with the First Nations Advisory Committee and relevant stakeholders that is intended for public exhibition later this year.

8. On 22 May 2023, Council resolved that the Lord Mayor write to the Hon. Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon. David Harris MP, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty as well as all State and Federal Members of Parliament within the City of Parramatta regarding the First Nations Strategy.

9. Council’s 2023 Warami Festival celebrated 60,000 years of First Nations culture with a program of events and activities from 26 May-8 July 2023. This included opportunities to commemorate National Sorry Day (26 May 2023) and celebrate National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June 2023) and NAIDOC Week (2 – 9 July 2023).

10. The 2023 Warami Festival finished on 8 July with Burramatta NAIDOC Day held from 10am-4pm in The Crescent, Parramatta Park. The theme for 2023 National NAIDOC Week was ‘For Our Elders’, an acknowledgement of the role First Nations elders have played, and continue to play, in our communities and families. Residents and visitors enjoyed food, live music, dance, stories, traditional arts and crafts, market stalls and a truth telling tent.

11. It is recommended that Council waive the hire fees for Council venues (to a total budget waiver of $10,000) to facilitate open public discussion on the proposed change in the lead up to the referendum. Council will welcome applications from representatives from all sides of the debate and applications must be for purposes consistent with this resolution and operate in line with Council’s Facilities Hire Terms and Conditions.

12. Council’s existing agreement with Western Sydney Community Forum to coordinate and deliver a balanced program of neutral information, local education and awareness raising activities on the referendum will support this Lord Mayoral Minute. The agreement provides $40,000 for initiatives including an elder-led circle/smoking ceremony, public forum, workshops, information stalls, essay/multimedia competition for young people and awareness raising activities for targeted CALD communities and young people.

13. Finally, should Council support this Minute, Council will formally resolve to support the proposed change to the Constitution.

14. This resolution would be consistent with Council’s resolution of 28 March 2022 to support Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the key principles of the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’. Such a resolution would also be consistent with the Council resolution of 22 June 2022, wherein the Lord Mayor wrote to the new Federal Members of Parliament expressing City of Parramatta’s support for the same.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

1. The proposed waiver of Council venue hire fees to a total value of $10,000, for purposes consistent with this resolution and in line with Council’s Facilities Hire Terms and Conditions, would be funded from the existing Social and Community Services Business Unit operational budget.

2. It is noted that the agreement with Western Sydney Community Forum to coordinate and deliver a balanced program of neutral information, local education and awareness raising activities on the referendum, to the value of $40,000, has previously been funded from Council’s Community Capacity Building budget.

Lord Mayor Councillor Sameer Pandey

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Council 10 July 2023 Item 8.2

MINUTE OF THE LORD MAYOR

ITEM NUMBER 8.2

SUBJECT Women's World Cup 2023

REFERENCE F2022/03176 - D09044793

REPORT OF Lord Mayor Councillor Sameer Pandey

CSP THEME: THRIVING

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Lord Mayor Minute is to celebrate the opportunity for local City of Parramatta fans to watch the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the global football community.

Recommendation:

(a) That Council celebrates the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup from 20 July-20 August 2023, highlighting that City of Parramatta will host the grand final and several other matches at Accor Stadium.

(b) That Council notes that Parramatta Square will showcase livestreamed matches and feature freestyler footballers, FIFA games stations, foosball tables, Panna octagonal football cages and more, so fans can cheer on their team with the global football community.

(c) Further, that Council acknowledge the power of sport to bring people together and increase visitors to the City of Parramatta, noting its partnerships with Parramatta Square, Western Sydney Wanderers FC and Optus in activating live sites and promotional opportunities.

BACKGROUND

1. The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is scheduled to be the ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup competition, the quadrennial international women's football championship contested by the women's national association football teams organised by FIFA.

2. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and is scheduled to take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023. The games are being played on the east coast of Australia and New Zealand. The World Cup is bringing together 32 countries to compete for the 2023 title.

3. The event is a unique, global opportunity for Australia and the City of Parramatta to support and represent our multicultural and diverse community.

4. Following the success of the men's World Cup live sites in 2022, this is an opportunity to establish Parramatta as a destination for engaging in international events and to link the city with the growing popularity of women's sports.

5. All first-round matches for the Matildas (Australian National Team) are sold out or only have capacity for accessible seating. It is predicted that live sites will be a popular destination for the majority of people who were unable to purchase tickets.

6. The primary live site and live screen (livestream) will be activated in Parramatta Square (in the amphitheatre beside WSU). A secondary live site and live screen (livestream) can be activated in Centenary Square from 5 August - 20 August as the competition ramps up to the finals.

7. Additionally, there will be food vendors and local restaurant, beverage and hospitality retailer offerings for participants, and attendees to deliver holistic value and community benefits as part of local business engagement.

8. In partnership, Parramatta Square, Western Sydney Wanderers and Optus will have 3 weeks of activations in Parramatta Square during the live site to further enhance the event including player meet and greets and promotional items/give aways. These include Panna octagonal football cages for 1v1 and 2v2 free play games of football and foosball tables.

9. Launch Day on 20 July 2023 will feature additional activities from 4pm including Games on the Bus (a bus with video game consoles, TV screens and bench seating to play FIFA in 15-minute multiplayer sessions), a DJ playing family-friendly music and freestyle footballers performing tricks and showing-off their football skills.

10. Matildas player, Emily van Egmond, has been engaged as City of Parramatta’s live site event ambassador. Ms van Egmond has appeared 127 times for Australia on the international stage, and scored 30 times.

11. Roselea Football Club, a local club that hires Council’s facilities, will walk out onto the pitch as CommBank Mini Mates at the Matlidas first home game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

12. Accessible sporting facilities are important for the ongoing health, wellness and unity of the City of Parramatta community. Sportsgrounds are spaces where people from all walks of life can come together, build friendships, and share in the joy of physical activity. According to Council research, for every dollar invested in parks and sportsgrounds, $10 of social value is achieved over a year.

13. Council’s Sportsground Strategy and Action Plan (SSAP) is a roadmap and advocacy platform for the City of Parramatta to meet existing and future community needs across its network of 33 sportsgrounds spanning 64 sporting fields.

14. Whilst this Action Plan is focused on outcomes for all that participate in organised sport, successful implementation of its actions and recommendations will see benefit to female participants and underrepresented groups across the City. 21% of the reported organised sport participants within the City are female (from a total of 19,544 participants) and Council is committed to increase this through encouraging facilities, programs and actions that improve opportunities for women, girls and underrepresented groups to be active.

15. Successful implementation of the Action Plan involves:

a. Increased female representation and participation. Council is offering girls only soccer and cricket school holiday programs as part of its winter school holiday program as well as developing Sportsground Allocation Policies which aim to prioritise allocations towards hirers who provide for underrepresented groups, have female teams and committee representation, and have a commitment to inclusion and diversity.

b. Partnerships and collaborative investment in services and facilities. Every year Council runs Celebrating Girls in Sport, last year hosted by Cricket NSW at Cricket Central where 90 girls across Parramatta high schools participate in a range of activities and engage with successful females working or participating in sport and securing $14.2m in grant funding for sport facility upgrades with the key focus of the fund to deliver universally designed facilities which are inclusive and female-friendly.

c. Improved facilities and environments that are welcoming and inclusive for all genders.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR COUNCIL

1. There are no financial implications for Council arising from this Lord Mayor Minute.

Lord Mayor Councillor Sameer Pandey

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

REFERENCE MATERIAL