Letter to The Editor - This common sense applies to indigenous affairs as well as climate change and the current health crisis

To The Australian         Chris Kenny rightly warns that Australia needs to adopt a firmly independent approach towards the UN ("Forget the UN, we need to do what's best for ourselves", 7-8/3). Participate in discussions, yes, but not feel bound by past, present or future UN decisions. As he says, we cannot assume that UN demands are "sensible, competent or necessarily issued in the best interests of all nations." There may indeed be "some vested political or commercial interests" behind much UN behaviour. This common sense applies to indigenous affairs as well as climate change and the current health crisis. Much of the foolish agitation for constitutional recognition and the signing of a treaty or treaties takes its strength from well-meaning but unrealistic UN declarations. The government should back away from that campaigning and focus purely on non-controversial action to improve Aboriginal welfare and education.
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic