Voice to be Heard, A (1-Year Access)

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In 1973, for the first time, Aboriginal people from across Australia directly elected members to the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee (NACC), a body set up to represent their interests to the Federal government, via the newly created Department of Aboriginal Affairs. A Voice to be Heard tells the story of the election up to the declaration of the poll and the first meeting of the NACC. 191 candidates campaigned for forty-one elected places on the NACC. People such as Harry Hall (the 'Freedom Rides', Walgett) Florence Kennedy (Torres Strait Islands), Jim Stanley (Adelaide) and Milton Liddle (Alice Springs) expressed their hopes and plans for the future of their communities – both urban and regional. Not all those speaking saw the institution of the NACC as admirable; none saw it as an end in itself. Narrated by Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal), poet, artist and campaigner for Aboriginal rights, the film also features footage of John Moriarty, Charles Perkins and the former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam who spoke at the NAIDOC election ball.

(1974, 48 mins) © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.