Australia Should Vote 'No' on Indigenous Special Rights Referendum By Viv Forbes
Here in Australia, our politicians are promoting a divisive and racist change to our constitution by referendum — the creation of an indigenous "voice" with undefined powers. Voting is underway now.
According to Reuters:
SYDNEY, Oct 3 (Reuters) — Support for a proposal to amend Australia's constitution to enshrine recognition of Indigenous people has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although most voters intend to reject the change in a referendum now underway.
Early voting on whether to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create a "Voice to Parliament" to give them an avenue to advise the government on matters affecting First Nations Australians began on Monday.
"Indigenous" means "born here," so most of us are indigenous. And for all of us, our earliest Australian ancestors came from somewhere else.
But these politicians are referring to the Australian aboriginal minority, who, like all Australians, had ancestors from somewhere else, but are the oldest inhabitants on the continent.
To divide indigenous Australians on the basis of skin color or length of ancestry is more about politics than about justice.
We are all Australians, and constitutional changes that promote apartheid policies should be rejected.
Australia is now home to Aboriginals, as well as those descended from Islanders, English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Italian, German, Scandinavians, Melanesians, Greeks, Kiwis, Afghans, Africans, Chinese, and others. Most have made permanent homes here. All who embrace Australian citizenship and obey Australian law should be treated equally before the law.
People identifying as Aboriginals already have eleven voices in federal Parliament — more than justified by their numbers in the population.
Moreover, huge government departments and billions of dollars are already representing aboriginal interests. The "voice" will create another layer of race-based bureaucrats and delay every significant political decision
Despite having "native title" to far more land per head of population than most other Australians, many aboriginals live in degraded communal enclaves with poor community protection, especially for women and children. They need individual freehold titles, not communal titles controlled by bureaucrats, academics, and politicians.
Many Australians distrust proposals supported by big government; big business; trade unions; and the state-owned broadcasting company, the ABC.
Ordinary Australians are continually insulted by being "welcomed" to events by people stomping around in red nappies, blowing smoke, and making drainpipe noises. Most of these ceremonies are modern inventions. We do not need to be welcomed to our own country.
For these and many other reasons, I will be voting "NO."
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