In 1891, at the outset of the process of drafting an Australian Constitution, Sir Samuel Griffith, then premier of Queensland and later to be the first chief justice of Australia, said: “There is no doubt that here, as everywhere, there will be timid men who are afraid of launching into something new; but when was ever a great thing achieved without risking something. It is right to assess risk and return when looking to constitutional change.”

The best advice covers risks and benefits and leaves it to the people to decide the way forward. We have a tendency to view the debate about the Voice in the context of longstanding social and economic problems. That narrative is important. There is also inspiration and hope in the extraordinary human resources of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership across Australia.