I am a keen supporter of the Voice to Parliament and Executive Government.
We Australians live in a wealthy nation, rich in resources, both natural and human.
Unfortunately, our First Nations peoples generally suffer from being at the lowest end of our socio-economic community.
This human resource is almost ignored.
Australians now have an opportunity to try and fix this.
The result is not certain, but Australian policy to date has not worked.
We do need a change in direction.
This referendum may be it.
The Voice to Parliament and Executive Government is important because:
1. The Voice comes from the Uluru Statement from the Heart, generated from 10 years of discussion between the First Nations peoples including Torres Straight Islanders and mainland communities from Cape York to south west WA and all country in between. As with any community, there are differences of opinion on the best way forward, but the vast majority were in favour of this Statement. It is a request to all Australians to help enable them to improve their situation.
2. Australia does need to do something different. Recognising the First Nations peoples in our Constitution is the nail in the coffin for terra nullius, the false assumption the First Nations peoples were not occupiers of the lands that was the dominant philosophy of early Australian colonists. We still ride rough shod over them in the interest of maximising profits, best shown by the approval given by the State to destroy the culturally significant Juunkan Gorge in WA and continuing to ignore their concerns about mining developments on their lands in other States. This referendum will help to get their voices heard on the issues vital to them.
3. A Voice to Parliament and Executive Government is no different to lobbyists and large organisations making suggestions to our leaders. Often these groups pay political parties for this access at very expensive dinners and functions. Remote groups of very under privileged people have minimal access to our national leaders. The Voice would help to rectify this uneven access. Unlike other lobby groups, the Voice will function under an Act of Parliament that all political parties will contribute to. This law can be modified at the whim of politicians. If the Voice is enshrined within our Constitution in this referendum, politicians cannot delete it without another referendum.
4. There are a number of good examples where Government programs have resulted in improved outcomes and considerable cost savings when the programs have been designed with ‘local’ First Nation peoples inputs.
5. Numerous former Judges and constitutional lawyers have penned open letters saying this is neither a Constitutional minefield nor likely to cause legal issues.
There are many scare campaigns launched to deny The Voice.
I hope Australians have more gumption than to fall for these.
Please write “Yes” when you vote.
It may fix Australia.
– Murray Keys
Gympie
