I consider myself a republican supporter. I wrote about potential Australian republic models when I studied at law school. My ideas related to reforms that empowered First Nations people’s right to self-determination in an inclusive and proud Australian republic.

I imagined a nation that was honest about its past and one that was willing to confront its colonial legacies and the rightful place of First Nations peoples. A country that moved beyond token gestures and got real about addressing the shameful silence of our brutal past.

It seems the current push for a republic is only concerned about replacing the Queen with an Australian head of state. This will have no impact to the lives of most Australians and it risks further isolating First Nations from the democratic process.

Why do we continue to be silenced?

Australians are aware of the appalling statistics First Nations face: dying younger, incarcerated at the highest rates in the world, poor educational outcomes, children still being removed from their families. The gap is not closing. This has become the narrative of a country that is too afraid to dream big and reimagine a world where we see Australia’s First Nations as the solution, not the problem.

There is no referendum in sight for mob that endure the worst statistics under a system of laws without any voice in how those laws are created

There is no point pushing a republic model that ignores First Nations peoples. Changing the Queen to an Australian head of state only serves to fulfil an elitist agenda. The argument against this point is that – well, First Nations will have the same opportunity to run for president under our Australian republic.

But that is not recognition of First Nations Australians. It does not acknowledge the truth of our histories, our living languages or our many cultures. There has been almost a decade of talk about changing the constitution to recognise First Nations Australians and still there is no referendum in sight for mob that endure the worst statistics under a system of laws without any voice in how those laws are created.

My ideas on an Australian republic captivated my mind before the Uluru Statement from the Heart invited the Australian people to walk with us on a journey to enshrine a First Nations voice to parliament in the constitution. It was graciously gifted to the nation and heartlessly dismissed by the Turnbull government. This invitation was the culmination of the only constitutional dialogue process in Australian history that ever asked First Nations how they seek to be recognised.

As Professor Megan Davis wrote, “Turnbull rejected Uluru for all the reasons he endorses the republic. The preference of the political elite is for minimalism.” This is true. The preference is for symbolism because it’s easier to get a referendum across the line. What an insult to the Australian voter if our politicians and political elites think the only change we can achieve is when we uphold the status-quo.

So what does an Australian republic look like under an Australian head of state that turns it back on a First Nations voice? It will be one that continues to embellish its relationship with First Nations in tokenism (ie. new flag + new anthem = problem solved). The same moderate approach that has seen big bucks spent on our disadvantage without any accountability or any real concern to listen and act upon the calls from our many communities that continue to suffer.

In support of changing the head of state and become a republic, Labor recently announced its commitment to a $160m republic plebiscite if elected. On the other hand, Labor indicated it supports a legislated First Nations voice. This is alarming. An expensive plebiscite is good enough for the political elites pushing a minimalist Australian republic that has no regard to recognise First Nations. Yet, if a First Nations voice performs well enough we might get a referendum down the track? Australians know what an Indigenous voice looks like. We have had many models in the past, undone to our detriment.

The time to put a First Nations voice to the people is now. We should not be swayed by the challenge that comes with a referendum for a First Nation voice to parliament. Our country will not be a truly reconciled republic until we address the role of First Nations in our democratic life. It’s been 19 years since the last referendum. I was only a kid and couldn’t vote. Times have changed. I’m tired of our politician’s low expectations of our appetite for substantive change as well as the lack of faith they have in Australians to support a First Nations movement. We are ready for the task – put a First Nations voice to the people. Then let’s discuss an Australian republic.

• Teela Reid is a proud Wiradjuri and Wailwan woman, lawyer and human rights advocate