Push for critics to lose their voice
HERE we go again. The push is on by the federal government to gather support for its proposed voice legislation which would effectively create an extra layer of government focusing solely on Aboriginal Australians.
As the debate heats up, supporters scream racism at anyone opposing its introduction while those against also say it is racist, but because it divides people based purely on race.
Reality is, that unless and until the government releases details of its voice proposal, it is impossible for anyone to make an informed decision either way.
According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese the voice consists of some 270 pages.
So where is it?
Why are Australians being kept in the dark?
Instead they are being fed a campaign based on nothing more substantial than emotion and guilt.
“I believe there is room in people, s hearts to finally recognise First Nations people in our constitution,” Mr Albanese said during the week.
In other words, if you don’t vote in favour, you don’t have a heart.
What drivel!
And this, “A voice to parliament will give First Nations people a say in decisions that impact them”. Seriously?
You might say that, if it wasn’t for the fact there are currently 1100 funded organisations and more than 200 programs and services in Australia aimed at advancing Aboriginal Australians.
There are also 11 federally elected representatives from across parties, the greatest representation of Aboriginal voices in parliament in the history of this nation.
Regardless of the government’s approach to selling the voice, Australians are entitled to know the details; matters such as who created it, how would it operate, who would run it, how would those people be selected, what it involved and how much it would cost to implement.
More importantly how would it actually assist outback communities still suffering from poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence?
All we have at present is what spills from the lips of smooth tongued politicians who, I strongly suspect,
particularly in the case of inner city elitist activists, stand to make more out of it than those it is purported to help.
And let’s not forget the obscene gravy train called ATSIC which failed miserably and was dismantled in 2004 following corruption allegations and litigation involving its chairman Geoff Clark.
As Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price put it, “A core component of our free democracy is the fundamental principle that every Australian citizen is considered equal under the law. Why can’t we do what we fought for, be recognised as Australian citizens in this country, treated equally, not above anyone else and not below anyone else?”
Her comments drew a barrage of unseemly and unwarranted namecalling from Aboriginal activist Noel Pearson.
Clearly her comments struck a nerve.
The time has come to stop marginalising Aboriginal Australians because of their heritage and start treating everyone equally.
And until the federal government releases details of what the voice entails, you’d be a mug to fall for the warm and fuzzy rhetoric of those pushing the ‘Voice’ barrow.
Australia is one country with one people and, at the end of the day my friends, we all bleed red.