Brian Doherty is a no voter, as is his right, however, whilst he points to $ figures in an effort to deride the need for a voice being enshrined on our constitution, he ignores various issues that should be considered.
He says they have a voice by way of the NIAA.
That mindset ignores the root of the problem for indigenous Australians, it is a government agency funded by government adhering to government policies. Government policies are arrived at in Canberra offices, not in remote and other aboriginal communities.
Speaking to a public servant isn’t the same as speaking to the seat of power as the rest of us do.
We do that via our unions, our business lobby groups, and our social advocacy groups. We speak to them in rooms with closed doors where deals and negotiations are debated without us ever seeing the arguments or the deals made – that’s something we should fear, if we’re going to fear a voice.
The Voice will be openly discussed in parliament. We’ll know what the aboriginal community needs/wants. They’ll table their requests and speak to them. That’s as far as their power goes. That power will continue, however. In the rest of us. After hearing/reading what Australia’s first people seek, parliament will decide what, if any requests are agreed to.
That’s when we can exercise our power. We’ll judge the requests and parliament’s response to them.
If it’s a fair and needed request and parliament says no. We’ll, many of us, vote accordingly at the next election – members that voted no to a needed action should fear for their their electoral prospects.
The reverse would apply if what’s sought is a unmerited/precocious whim.
What is there to fear in all the above?
I fear the deals are behind closed doors that end up in billions being doled out to corporations, contracts to run detention centres, travel booking agencies for government.
I fear those beneficiaries becoming political donors.
Think about that, please!
To the Editor:
A bit wordy, I know, but I dream of such a debate being an ongoing one towards the referendum.
Brian’s basing his position on what I see as half the story is what’s resulted in 1st Nations people needing a Voice in the first place
Regards
Rubens Camejo
