To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain
Reading Time: 2 minutes Statistics revealing the extent to which Indigenous Affairs policies have failed to bridge the gap for Indigenous Peoples, and the Prime Minister’s continuing failure to take note of the Voice referendum’s outcome calling for a new approach underline the failure and inappropriateness of this and previous governments’ policies.
AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / CURRENT ISSUES
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 5 October 2023 · Last modified 6 October 2023
Reading Time: 7 minutes The looming 2023 referendum asks us to answer a single question about two distinct issues – the constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous peoples as our nation’s First Peoples, and the constitutionally entrenched setting up of a Voice to Parliament (and Government).
By presenting the Voice as a means of recognising Indigenous people as our First Peoples, the referendum risks creating the impression that the majority of Australians reject the constitutional recognition of the status of our Indigenous peoples. At best, a narrowly victorious Yes vote would create the impression that we are divided on the issue of recognition. Such an outcome would also constitutionally entrench the perception that Indigenous people are disadvantaged and unlike other Australians experiencing similar disadvantage, will require specific and ongoing governmental assistance as recommended by a body called, the Voice to Parliament.
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