Show me the evidence

There are two consistent themes running through The Voice controversy. Advocates for the “No” campaign say they can’t in good faith vote for something about which so little information is provided, while advocates for the “Yes” campaign argue that anyone who votes against the referendum is a racist bigot.

When the Minister for Indigenous Australians the Hon Linda Burney MP was asked how The Voice would work, she replied: “It’s there if you want to look for it”, apparently referring to the report presented to the Federal Government.

The PM the Hon Anthony Albanese then said that the government would not necessarily be following the recommendations in the report, indicating that he knows how it will work, but refuses to tell us.

Sceptically, I believe that he will legislate procedures that manifestly benefit the Socialist Left faction of the Labor Party, while doing the utmost harm to other parties.

I notice that the rest of the Cabinet has been told to shut up because the contradictory statements by various Cabinet Ministers have stopped.

The bare “fact” provided is that it will only be an advisory body on legislation pertaining to Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

Because all legislation, including amendments affects all Australians, directly/indirectly, The Voice will have the opportunity to submit recommendations on all legislation to the government.

And the PM has conceded only a “brave” government would go against the recommendations.

If The Voice is established, the next step is the negotiations for a treaty and The Voice will negotiate this with the Australian Government, according to Prof Gabrielle Appleby UNSW Law School et al, meaning that The Voice will advise the government and negotiate the treaty contemporaneously.

Can’t anyone else see a conflict of interest here?

What will happen to the thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support and advice agencies costing $30B per year?

Seems little point in them if The Voice takes over their roles and conversely, little point in The Voice if these organisations keep running.

Finally, in the absence of any sustainable evidence to the contrary, it seems that those who will least benefit from The Voice will be the Australian people.

JEFF WILLIAMS, Condon.