Letters & Texts

Queensland Voice

Various writers have commented upon the federal government’s Indigenous Voice proposal. Yet none of them mention much about the Queensland state Labor Indigenous Voice Committee.

This committee has eight wellknown Indigenous identities on board. These include Terry O’Shane, Talei Elu, Karen Dini-Paul, Patricia Loes, Edward Smallwood, Joshua Gorringe, Kerry Crumblin, and Cameron Costello.

In December 2021 the federal government released the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process Final Report which Queensland state Labor took on board.

In early 2022 state Labor gathered the aforementioned and the committee was formed. The committee members were to draw on their connection to their particular region, experience and community support to consider a range of Indigenous Voice options, including the statewide Indigenous Voice Body.

They were chosen to inform the state government’s continued input to the Australian government’s Indigenous Voice process and link with existing and emerging local and regional voice structures in Queensland.

The committee, state Labor said, will report back to the Queensland government within 12 months on the outcomes of their co-design work and recommended Indigenous Voice model.

We all still await this information while we see that the South Australian government has already introduced a Voice to state parliament.

Now that we are near to halfway through 2023 will the Premier update Queenslanders on when we are to see this committee’s recommendation and how their recommendations will impact on a Voice to state parliament and also all the Local Councils State wide.

Given that the state and local governments deliver all the working parts for education, health, public transport, roads, water, sewerage as well as general civil and criminal laws, to name a few, it makes sense to have an Indigenous Voice to state parliament but how will this interact with a federal Voice or indeed a local government Voice.

Why all the secrecy from Queensland State Labor? This isn’t another ‘build it and they will come’ asset surely?

John Friend, Toowoomba

Youth crime

Recently we have constructive suggestion to address “youth crime” offenders by taking them away to facilities where they can learn skills, remove the access to phones and digital media and develop selfdiscipline and build support and selfesteem.

This approach of defining boundaries points to the changes that have evolved with the lack of the abilities to discipline children by the eroding by the “PC culture” of traditional discipling. The lack of ability to smack by parents and to put in discipline measures by teachers and other people in charge of children is a major cause of the problem.

On the issue of smacking (not assault and battery), a smack provided at the appropriate time and place confirms in the mind that the issue is not acceptable and builds acceptable boundaries.

We have heard a lot of the older generations confirm that a smack and the ability to say “no” and not expect to always get what you want has taught them the “life lessons” and build respectful and productive individuals. The lack of these of these tools means we are seeing the sort of offending by youth today and lack of acceptance of responsibilities by their parents.

Bruce L Birtwell, Wilsonton

TEXT THE EDITOR

Artificial intelligence is taking over the world. As if life isn’t difficult enough already. Dave, Twmba

Dear dog lovers, please keep your barking dogs entertained while you are away. Somewhere near Pixie Drive Park there’s a very distressed animal and more are now joining in the chorus.

Enough for one afternoon.

BM, Kspg

Congratulations to Sky reporters covering the Coronation, their coverage was fun, happy, positive, and professional, fantastic to watch!

C.N, Cent. Heights

Mr Albanese keeps telling us what it was like to be a single child of a single parent.

Although he did not know it at the time, he actually had a father, even if he did not support financially.

My wonderful mother brought up two children when my father died suddenly and unexpectedly when I was nine years old.

So, many others do know what it was like to live in poverty.

Rob Toowoomba

Letters

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You can email your letter via toowoomba@news.com.au