Letter to The Editor - Australians of indigenous ancestry already have adequate means of achieving dialogue with their fellow Australians

To The Australian          There is nothing in Mark Leibler's latest advocacy ("'It's all or nothing' on Uluru Statement", 12-13/5) to dispel legitimate fears that the Referendum Council is pushing a fundamentally separatist agenda contrary to the interests and wishes of the great majority of Australians. National unity is the bedrock of our security as a people. Despite his claims, it is not clear that the Uluru Statement is truly representative of 'the wishes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people', for membership of the groups that eventually originated it was by invitation only. Nor is it clear that any such 'people' can be or should be given any special constitutional status at this stage in history, when there has been so much marrying out. Moreover, there is already widespread public distrust in Parliament and politicians, so it is unlikely that the electorate will accept the argument that any 'voice to Parliament' will not be treated as 'a third chamber.' In any case Australians of indigenous ancestry already have adequate means of achieving dialogue with their fellow Australians.
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic