To The Australian There are obvious weaknesses and dangers in the plan for indigenous constitutional recognition being proposed by Uphold and Recognise ("Voice plan ready, 'sense of justice' still needed", 26/6). Amendment of the Constitution "to recognise local entities" would involve a political and not moral decision to accept certain groups that appear to have an artificial nature and in fact merit no such recognition at the expense of other Australians. Any "advisory council enshrined in the Constitution" could easily become, as the thin end of the wedge, more than merely "advisory" by future legislation, especially if an ALP government comes to power. Australia does not need any official "truth-telling" process. All relevant matters can be, and are, discussed in our present free and popular forums. The proposed "process" would almost certainly be as biased as is surely the present parliamentary committee headed by two advocates for constitutional recognition. Nor should any "formal declaration of recognition" be contemplated unless it has gained a successful endorsement by referendum.
Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic