Federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent has thrown his support behind a national Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The member for Monash called for the proposal to be "embraced in its fullness" in a new book exploring faith and the moral case for constitutional change.
'Statements from the Soul: The moral case for the Uluru Statement from the Heart', launched at the Great Synagogue in Sydney on Monday, features religious leaders and other prominent voices making the case for Voice, Treaty and Truth as a means of reconciliation, healing and improving outcomes for First Nations people.
The book canvasses Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish and Hindu religious and cultural perspectives, drawing from tenets held by contributors and those practising their respective beliefs.
It builds on the unprecedented coalition of peak religious organisations which released a joint resolution calling for bipartisan action on the Voice referendum in May 2022.
Mr Broadbent cites his Christian faith and the Bible in a plea for "late comers" to this land to bring justice for First Peoples.
"You must not steal. You must not murder. You must not testify falsely against your neighbour. These commandments were broken by the British government when its fleet of ships arrived to take possession of this country," he notes.
"The First Peoples have shown deep mercy and a pure heart in writing the (Uluru) Statement, inviting all Australians to walk with them and share in this gift of great grace and truth. They are peacemakers in the face of appalling discrimination and oppression.
"The custodians of this land are hungry and thirsty for justice. First Peoples have been persecuted for declaring and claiming their rightful custodianship of Country."
Mr Broadbent notes that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereignty was never ceded.
"As their sovereignty has never been ceded, how humbling is it for the latecomers, the second peoples, that we are invited to walk together with the First Peoples into a better future for this country?"
"The invitation is one that must not be ignored but embraced in its fullness. It is a line in the sand for which we should be grateful, very grateful indeed."
His plea comes as his party is yet to announce an official stance ahead on the referendum planned for later this year.
Noel Pearson writes in his foreword that at "a time of uncertainty and anxiety about … whether our fellow Australians will accept the outstretched hand of the Uluru Statement", reading these essays "revived my optimism about the cause to which these great essays are responding".
"Words can make and remake the world. It remains to be seen whether the Uluru Statement from the Heart will count in the history of the Australian people as words that remade Australia," Mr Pearson writes.
Former federal Liberal vice president Karina Okotel echoes Mr Broadbent's support.
"Injustice through legislation and policy is far more likely to occur where those affected are not consulted," she writes.
"Let's get real – often governments go through the motions of consultation with the outcome predetermined before a community meeting is even called.
"Unless the government is compelled to listen to Indigenous people in matters concerning them, all the consultations in the world can amount to nothing more than a tick in a box."
Former New South Wales chief justice, Tom Bathurst, who launched Statements from the Soul, told the Law Society of NSW last year that Australia "won't achieve a system that is just until First Nations communities and elders are not merely consulted but have an active role in the formation of the laws and processes which affect them, including constitutional recognition".
Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry which co-hosted the Sydney launch with the Great Synagogue, said "many Jews have played a prominent part in this debate, and so it is natural for us to get behind this rallying cry of support that crosses religious and political divisions".
"It shows that the Uluru Statement goes to the heart of who we are as a country and is essential to reconciliation," he said.
Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel said: "We are continuing to listen and learn from Indigenous brothers and sisters who ask us to journey together, to accept their invitation to friendship and partnership – to walk along together."
Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man and broadcaster Stan Grant is also among the contributors.
The book was a project of the Radical Centre Reform Lab at Macquarie University Law School, supported by Foundation Donors Henry and Marcia Pinskier. It was co-edited by Dr Shireen Morris, Director of the Reform Lab, and Damien Freeman, founder of conservative organisation Uphold & Recognise.
Dr Morris said it was "inspiring to see Australians of diverse backgrounds advocating for the modest constitutional reform Indigenous people seek. We all bear responsibility for the success or failure of this referendum. Multifaith and multicultural Australians have a crucial role to play".
Statements from the Soul is available online and in print.
