Voice proponents flood the streets of major cities as Australian media battles its ‘cult of forgetfulness.’ Senator Jacinta Price’s National Press Club speech last week generated a lot of publicity – mainly about whether what she said was accurate or not – which it transparently wasn’t. Senator Nampijinpa Price, when asked if she felt there Continue reading »
Indigenous affairs
Australians have been able to witness the voter remorse that can arise when a nation votes on a specific question of policy in a referendum that has the potential to set their country on a new course. Referendum questions with that level of significance don’t come along very often for democratic nations but when they Continue reading »
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to parliament will result in systemic and sustainable change in government decision-making and policy formulation affecting First Nations peoples. Here are four reasons why. This article concentrates on the proposed new section 129(ii) of the Constitution, which provides that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice ‘may make Continue reading »
In her recent address to the National Press Club, Jacinta Price resuscitated the seventy years old policy of assimilation constructed by Minister for Territories Paul Hasluck. What should be done about indigenous Australians has been an abiding question for governments for generations. Echoes of past debates can be heard among the many views in contention Continue reading »
This is a PLEA to all sensible women (and men) to vote Yes in the referendum because the damages of a No win will move us backward, not forward. We will still need ways of remedying the serious mess of inequities initiated in 1788. The failure of Yes will show the lack of sufficient trust Continue reading »
This is a story of what a voice can achieve and how easily it is undone by external forces. A little over 35 years ago I was Council Clerk and CDEP Coordinator for a small indigenous community in the far reaches of the Northern Territory tablelands. I saw my task was to act as the Continue reading »
If you don’t know about the voice, dont just say No! If you don’t know About The Voice Don’t just say ‘No!’ Or maybe guess, Perhaps say, ‘Yes?’ Go to that link, Read, have a think, Then make your choice About The Voice! PS I must confess My vote is, ‘YES!’ Be ready to vote Continue reading »
I’m voting “Yes” as a proud Australian of Aboriginal, European and Middle-eastern ancestry. Australia’s Constitution needs to catch up with the nation we are today. We’re a multicultural superpower and Asia-Pacific democracy, founded on 65,000 years of heritage and culture. Our Constitution needs to reflect that. But there’s another very important reason not to Vote Continue reading »
The woman with the Yes pamphlets outside the MCG on Saturday was unwavering. While the rest of us trundled into the ground in raincoats and under umbrellas, she stood alone in only a T-shirt and jeans, smiling in the breeze and the showers – entirely undaunted by the mass indifference to her and her message. Continue reading »
The Age/SMH Resolve Strategic poll on the Voice referendum was a dramatic reminder that progressives should always be ready for a profound kick in the guts. The referendum campaign is not lost yet but it looks increasingly likely that it will be – despite the massive campaign launched by the Yes campaign. That campaign was Continue reading »