After many months of bitter debate about the Voice, an address to the National Press Club this week reminds us that we are back at a point where it seems that, no matter what the truth may be, we will not let it lead to any change, writes Laura Tingle.
The truth telling process should have come first.
Maybe it didn’t have to if we had a government ready for the fight phrases like “History Wars” and “Great Australian Silence” should have made bleedingly obvious was coming, but that’s not the government we have.
As it stands the emboldened and networked hard and far right off the back of a no vote may be a more urgent reason to vote yes than the institution at the heart of the matter. They will likely now pose a threat to the rights of far more Australians, well more than 50%.
This is absolutely, 100%, my position.
The following is my take which is sure to be deeply unpopular but I'm not here to win friends.
I don't care about the voice. It's not part of my day to day. I don't regularly interact with a great number of first nations people. Of course I'll vote yes because it seems like a no brainer but I'm pissed that this has become such a distraction from the real actual problems that I would prefer our government address.
Australia has been on a trajectory towards the right since Keating left office in 1996. Our centre left party has had precious little opportunity to rebalance us in the last 30 years, we finally get a chance and… we squander it on this shit show.
If the outcome of the referendum is a "no" vote, Labor will have a sucking chest wound heading in to the next election.
Has it though? It has certainly dominated the media, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has distracted from issues such as the cost of living at a government policy level. The rent and housing debate between the ALP and The Greens was arguably an even bigger story earlier this year.
First they came . . .
Yes is it hyperbole to mention that? I Don’t think so. You gotta have a real good look at who’s supporting No…
Pauline Hanson? Fatty McFuck Face? Cookers and conspiracy nuts? Literal fucking Nazies?
Maybe, just maybe if thinking about going to vote the same way as these dropkicks you should reevaluate. Have a look at the actual proposition. Despite the scare campaign its actually pretty simple.
It recognises our first people.
Parliament retains full legislative control. It’s an advisory board consisting of Indigenous Australians selected by the regions and communities to advise on legislation and matters that concern them.
It’s not an additional layer of bureaucracy. It’s a leadership body intended to short circuit the bureaucracy and get the information from the regions to the decision makers in government.
Every one voting now is making a conscious decision to take a step forward and try to heal.
Yes I see you. Yes I hear you and want to listen
Or
No I don’t see you No I don’t hear you and I don’t want to listen.
If it is not an additional layer of bureaucracy, where I can find information that explains which minister or government body that the Voice will make representations towards? Will it direct representation to the existing NIAA or will it replace this government agency?
When explaining the concept to my parents and grandparents, it has been challenging to convince them that this is not just ATSIC 2.0. Their concerns are that the corruption that occurred within that former organisation will be harder to control as the organisation would now have a constitutional shield to protect against criticism or accountability.
The difference here is that the Voice doesn't have a budget, run programs or deliver services. It can only make recommendations. I'm not sure what your relatives think corruption would look like in this case.
Regardless, their concerns that the Voice would have a "constitutional shield" are completely unfounded, because there is nothing in the amendment to prevent the government from completely restructuring it in the future. And if such a thing were to occur, since Australians are only voting on the concept of the Voice, and not the exact design of the Voice, no one can use the defence that the government is "ignoring the will of the people".
It’s a good question.
From the Voice principles about how it will be set up:
The Voice will not have a program delivery function The Voice would be able to make representations about improving programs and services, but it would not manage money or deliver services.
https://voice.gov.au/about-voice/voice-principles
It will not be a body that administers funding and programs that is what the bureaucracy is supposed to do.
The Voice will be able to look at what the various bureaucrats are doing and advise them and the Minister better ways and more efficient ways of delivering the services they are delivering.
If the Minister for Aboriginal affairs has a brain wave about some program the Voice will be ideally positioned to say this will work, that won’t work throw that bit out it’s ridiculous.
So it’s not a bureaucracy it’s a leadership group elected from the regions and indigenous communities that is there to advise in the best way to fix the many problems our indigenous brothers and sisters are facing. Problems that every one recognises they are facing and need fixing. It gives ownership of the solutions to the people facing them. Ownership to the people best places to find workable and effective solutions.
It really is not much to ask. The only power it has is to advise but that advice will be hard to ignore without the people of Australia saying to their elected representatives- why are you not listening?
The key is the advise is coming from one central place that represents the regions and indigenous people and carry’s with it the moral authority of the Voice.
Hope this helps!