National Indigenous Times spoke with prominent Indigenous people from across Australia on their views on the Voice to Parliament.

Northern Territory's 2022 Australian of the Year and director of the NT Aboriginal Justice Unit, Leanne Liddle, said she supports Aboriginal Australians having fair representation and a voice in our national Parliament.

"It is integral that all of us – including those who are vulnerable due to illness, disability, poverty, or trauma – have our voices heard when it comes to matters that impact our daily lives," she said.

"This is especially important if we are to fix our broken justice system that continues to relentlessly preference punishment over prevention, diversion and rehabilitation, leading to Aboriginal people being among the most incarcerated populations worldwide. A reset is long overdue."

Former Treasurer and Aboriginal Affairs Minister of Western Australia, Ben Wyatt, said it is not controversial or difficult to support proposition that Australia's First Nation's people should be guaranteed the opportunity to provide advice on policies and laws that impact on them.

"In my view, the reasons are many, but for those Australians that are still undecided, the fact that this will inevitably lead to better development of policy, better implementation of programs and better use of public money should lead one to support the Voice," he said.

"Indeed, the success of a range of policies like the Aboriginal Procurement Policy was largely due to the efforts of the Western Australian equivalent, the Aboriginal Advisory Committee, that provided input into both how it was designed and then improved along the way."

Co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue, Professor Megan Davis, said the change is about "compelling institutions to listen and hear what First Nations have to say on laws and policies".

"One of the most transformative moments of my life was receiving my grandfather Fred's protection-era Barambah/Cherbourg reserve files from the Queensland archives," she said.

"It has served as a profound motivator in my lifelong work on structural inequality and the Constitution.

"His letters to the 'Protector', government and institutions demonstrate Voice. Our people have always had a Voice but it's rarely listened to and heard."

Professor Davis and Pat Anderson said more on the Voice here.

Nathan Moran chief executive of Sydney's Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, said it is "essential that we have some way of having our people represent us in the Commonwealth Government".

"I say that on the basis that we're part of New South Wales, Aboriginal land rights, we were meant to have a national land rights system to represent us but it's very hard to have a national perspective or have any supporters or advocates at the national level when we're only limited to the state of New South Wales under land rights," he said.

"In my life, I've seen the creation, the establishment of ATSIC (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission). It was great to have a national voice, a truly representative elected voice. I certainly hope that whatever happens could be on parallel with that; that we elect Aboriginal people to represent us.

"For us, about matters that are related to ourselves as Aboriginal people or First Nations people around qualifying the effective and efficient use of government resources for identified programmes.

"It's so incredibly important that we have a national voice, call out government to stop them from corporatized from privatising our culture, and really at the end of the day to end colonialism."

Associate professor of law and human rights expert Dr Hannah McGlade said a First Nations Voice, protected by and given authority through the Commonwealth Constitution, "would shift us from a history of exclusion and dispossession, providing Aboriginal people the right to have our say and be heard on laws that affect us, to identify systemic and structural discrimination and provide solutions based on human rights".

"As envisaged by the delegates at the Regional Dialogues, the National Voice should have a role in speaking to State Parliaments and can have a particularly important role in informing governments across Australia about the internationally agreed rights of Indigenous peoples," she said.

Read more on her views here.

Author Ronnie Gorrie said that there needs to be more information about the Voice communicated to the public, including Indigenous communities, because "we don't know a lot about it… So, it's not a yes to the voice just yet but it's definitely not a no".

"However, I would like to think that the Voice would allow all our clan groups across this nation to have their say because we all have different needs all over," she said.

"I also like the idea that we will have a seat at the table and be able to make decisions that affect us because we, Aboriginal people, know what's best for us."

Mervyn Eades, founder and chief executive of Ngalla Maya Aboriginal Corporation and recipient of the 2016 Eddie Mabo Social Justice Award, said truth-telling and treaty were priorities.

"What will Constitutional recognition change at the ground level? What is the Voice going to do for our people?" he asked.

"Every other country in the world with a situation like ours they have made treaties with people. Treaty comes before anything. You have to make treaties with people and you have to have truth telling.

"We have had a constitution since time immemorial - our law and our culture. It may not be written down but it was spoken and it meant fairness for all. In this country there is no fairness, no equality, no quality of life for our children."

Tyronne Garstone, chief executive of the Kimberley Land Council, said the Uluru Statement from the Heart is "the only First Nations-led process that affirms the position that has been put forward by many First Nations leaders over the past century; that First Nations people need to have a direct say on laws and policies that impact their lives".

"A Voice to Parliament… will mean a greater level of accountability and advocacy for First Nations people in the regions. First Nations people will have the ability to have a real say around legislation and policy development on programs that impact the lives of First Nations people in this country," he said.

"It will act as a safeguard for First Nations people… A Voice will help all of Australia ensure that the services provided and the programs funded for First Nations people are tailored to meet the needs of the communities on the ground.

"It will mean stronger commitments and real outcomes for First Nations wellbeing, with a focus on remote housing, economic development, training pathways, education, language and identity."

Megan Krakouer of the National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project said it would mean "a little bit more of a voice than already exists… which in real terms is not as tangible and loud as it should be".

"The voice to Parliament cannot guarantee but may increase the likelihood of our people's voices being amplified," she said.

"The problem with the constitution is that it still has racist clauses present… where special powers can be exercised over First Nations people and the migrant born. Australians should be asked to simultaneously delete the racist sections and that would be a respect for the Voice of our people in the constitution."

Joseph Collard, head of Djoona - Aboriginal training centre, said the Voice to Parliament "must allow every tribe across Australia" to be heard.

"(It) must allow for a collective voice through on agreed priorities on a national level such as traditional languages, native title, Aboriginal tourism, Aboriginal art, Aboriginal agreements with government and mining companies," he said.

"Indigenous Voice cannot be exclusive but inclusive… must allow for equity and sharing the journey through allowing opportunity for hosting national dialogues in all parts of Australia."

Mr Collard proposed that the Voice could have an international and diplomatic role.

"We need an international voice through trade and ambassadors being part of the United Nations, and advocate towards the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."