That headline may not mean much to you overseas types but it certainly should to all Australians. On this day ahead of a little trip away we have already voted, yes in my case and I never know how R votes, aside from his coal mining English rusted on Labour Party inclination.
Polling day will be the 14th of October, yet it is not an election but a referendum to change our constitution. The question is
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
Answer Yes or No.
The change would mean that the above mentioned will have an official voice to express their thoughts to the ruling government on matters that affect them. Is that not simple? There is nothing about land claims, nothing about recognising the misdeeds of the past. It is a purely simple unloaded question to be taken at face value.
I don't believe this woman Nicola Charles is stupid. She seems intelligent and speaks well enough, as she probably would being a former soap opera star. Is this the performance of her life? Never mind that it is all lies. The United Nations will not take over Australia if we vote yes. Don't really waste your time with her nonsense (for the record) at this video.
Those opposing the vote who campaign for voters to write 'No' on the ballot paper have campaigned very successfully, having sowed so many seeds of doubt in people's minds, bringing in Trumpian style politics. But they have been rather brought down by the extremists with all their crazy talk. The no campaigners best line is 'If you are unsure, vote no' and has done its best to sow doubt and confusion. I say 'I say if you are unsure, damned well educate yourself from reliable sources'.
Look at the basic question. It is simple, nothing loaded about it. Surely as a nation we must answer yes. World opinion will be against us if the no vote triumphs. Rightly or wrongly we are already thought of a racist country by many.
Young people are notoriously difficult for polling surveyors to get an idea of how they will vote. They won't answer phone calls or respond to messages or online surveys. They are my hope for a Yes vote.
I know some of you will vote no, as you are entitled, but please don't be swayed by propaganda from the 'no' campaign.
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YES. And about time too.
ReplyDeleteEC, it's a pretty simple thing that may well help greatly.
DeleteInformative and objective. This whole thing is just lending first nation people a voice. A start for potential treaty in the future etc. It has to become a political football attracting so many neo-Nazi groups to come to the rally. Just mad.
ReplyDeleteRoentare, the extremists will always vote against anything that a socially progressive should do. It is the majority of non extremists where the vote hangs.
DeleteThe way that native Australians have been treated in the last two hundred years should be enough to guarantee a "YES" vote. And even that will be far too little far too late. How can "NO" even be an option?
ReplyDeleteNo argument from me YP. But remember, forty years of good will and millions, perhaps billions of dollars spent seems to have solved little, aside from better health care for remote indigenous citizens.
DeleteLike anything that concerns politics (although I don't see why this should) it has become a screaming match between the vocal idiots on both sides. Hopefully people can see through the name calling and ignorance and, as you say, do their own research.
ReplyDeleteSparkles, it should not be political but has become so. Could there have been negotiation before the final question was written? Perhaps, but I think Dutton was determined to oppose regardless.
DeleteHere in the US our own Bureau of Indian Affairs is headed by a Native American, Bryan Newland, which only makes sense.
ReplyDeleteIt does make sense Kirk. What is the official role of the bureau?
DeleteBasically, to keep an eye on the reservations, of which the residents enjoy a limited sovereignty. American Indians have been U.S. citizens for a hundred years now, but they also (if they so choose) have a kind of dual citizenship, in the sense of belonging to a particular tribe. Anything like that in Australia? Are Aborigines considered citizens? (If you find that question offensive, chalk it up to typical American ignorance about the rest of the world.)
DeleteAt a referendum in I think 1967, over 90% of Australians voted yes to change the law so that Aborigines be naturally accepted as Australians, with all the rights and responsibilities that would confer. I don't believe we have anything like your reservations, with or without casinos. Thanks for the information. There are some courts in areas with high Aboriginal populations where a more traditional life is led, that take into account tribal law when judging and sentencing criminal offenders.
DeleteGood lord, doesn't it drive you mad? Manitoba, a province in Canada, just voted in the first Aboriginal premier. We are all thrilled, at least my tribe is. The wannabe Trumpians? Of course not. Let us know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
WWW, sad to hear you have wanna be Trumpians. We have them here too but they don't have much influence. I remember a couple of R's distant cousins in England having rather odd supportive views of Trump. Scary from otherwise fine people.
DeleteTo me it's a Yes mess and a NO mess.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, sadly it has turned out to be like that.
Delete"educate yourself from reliable sources"
ReplyDeletebut it's all politicalspeak language and how do I know who is reliable and who isn't? Anything political, anything even remotely political simply doesn't make sense to me, my brain can't absorb it. For this reason I think a referendum should not be compulsory voting. I will go and mark my paper, though I've heard the fine for not doing so is only going to be $20?
River, if you are not confident to vote either way, yes do just get your name marked off. Once that is done, there isn't a fine. If you are brazen, walk straight out. If not pretend to vote and stick your unmarked voting slip into the box. But I ask, what does your heart feel about these people who were given very rough treatment by governments and society into our lifetimes?
DeleteThere's a couple of stories I could tell you about indigenous people who lived in amongst "white" people but even with all the advantages they ended up badly, with one family ending up in cardboard huts under a bridge with the rest of the tribe.
DeletePerhaps the government is a lot at fault, (a LOT) but there is fault on their own side too. They are supplied with housing and the doors and cabinets get ripped out for backyard campfires. Windows get broken because of drunken fights. Any one of them having anything of value (clothes, money, furniture) has "the tribe" wanting their share, the tribe after all is "family" and families share to the point where all end up with nothing. I honestly do not know which way to vote. I WANT them to be recognised and have better benefits, schools and hospitals etc, but assimilation doesn't seem to always be the answer.
As an outsider it seems eminently sensible to me.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased that all of my overseas blogmates think the same, Graham. Referendums are terribly difficult to win here and it become very messy.
DeleteNormally I would never ask a person how they vote.. it is totally private. But this time I will be disappointed if anyone I normally respect votes no. Vote yes!
ReplyDeleteHels, nor would I ask anyone and I am certainly not asking in this post. Though it is good to know you are voting 'correctly', comrade.
DeleteSurely the 'Yes' vote must win? I hope so.
ReplyDeleteJB, I fear what will happen if the vote is no. Not riots, not challenging the result by the Prime Minister. Just an oppressive weight of disappointment and more political to and fro. I can see the headlines in the world media. I am now wondering if the referendum was a good idea.
DeleteI reviewed something recently about voting rights for native americans. A sad history, that few people know about.
ReplyDeleteTP, I would assume nowadays they have the same voting rights as you do?
DeleteI know nothing about this issue, but as you've described it, a YES vote seems pretty clear-cut!
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. The overseas opinions are especially valued.
DeleteThis should be a no-brainer "yes" but as you said, if a person doesn't know, DAMN WELL GET EDUCATED. It's not that hard. Canada has a bad record regarding indigenous peoples; the arrogance of European settlers was staggering - why can't more people see the harm that was done?
ReplyDeleteJenny, our histories with indigenous people are quite similar in many ways. Invasion of their land, poor treatment, trying hard to make things right and mostly failing.
DeleteI'll be voting yes nad have been wearing a yes t-shirt at every opportunity, just in case anyone cares about my opinion enough to copy me.
ReplyDeleteIt's a no brainer and I'll be mortified if we don't have a majority "yes"
Sorry I missed this Kylie. You were one among many who voted yes, but not enough. The opposition used the old method of divide and conquer and succeeded.
DeleteJohn was just reading to me about the NO vote. I can't believe it so I came over to see what you had to say. WWWoman beat me to mention the Manitoba vote, which I am excited about.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, we have a lot of wanna be Trumpsters.
Jackie while it was a sad result, it became so predictable none were shocked. Wealthy, educated and socially progressives in inner cities voted yes, up to 93% in some areas but the outer suburbs and country overwhelming said no, some yes votes being in the low teens.
DeleteWhat a shame about the results, Andrew. What were the No voters worried about, I wonder? Why the division of the vote between suburban/rural and urban? We heard nothing about it over here.
ReplyDeleteIt is that Jenny. While many of us are disappointed, we are not surprised. Voting patterns for and against gay marriage followed along similar lines although nowhere near the extreme results for this vote. Also to be taken into account is that many would have a gay person in their close or extended family but who knows a person who is obviously aboriginal? Have I ever interacted in life at all in my life with one? My father's Irish born friend had an Aboriginal wife and I suppose I spoke to her but I was very young. We had an Aboriginal tour guide when on holidays in the Northern Territory, but that is it.
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