Divisiveness has been with us from the start. The Voice will be another important step – like the apology and Mabo – towards harmony and reconciliation.
The Voice debate has ignored the actual words of the proposed addition to the Constitution. Those words will not lead to a torrent of legal cases, nor will they introduce social divisiveness in our foundation document.
Similarly, the Voice proposal states that the parliament can make laws about the “composition, functions, powers and procedures” of the Voice. Gough Whitlam found the failure to obey the Constitution’s words “there shall be” offensive. He also wanted to expand Commonwealth authority. There is a power in the Constitution for the Commonwealth to prevent a state discriminating against other states about railways, but only on the advice of the Inter-State Commission. His government resurrected the commission. That lasted only a few years.
The second significant word in the Voice amendment is the reference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island. That was the word used when the discussion on constitutional recognition began. “Peoples” is also the word used in the United Nations resolution that has guided similar debates throughout the world.Along the way in Australia, some participants in the debate changed “peoples” to “nations”.
The special status of our First Peoples has long been recognised in many ways, such as with former prime minister, which was also decried at the time as not good enough. That special status is manifest most clearly in the recognition of land rights as part of our common law by the High Court in the 1992 Mabo judgment – a decision reinforced by acts of all our parliaments.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As a former chief justice, I find legal scaremongering on the Voice offensiveDivisiveness has been with us from the start. The Voice will be another important step - like the apology and Mabo - towards harmony and reconciliation.
Read more »
As a former chief justice, I find legal scaremongering on the Voice offensiveDivisiveness has been with us from the start. The Voice will be another important step – like the apology and Mabo – towards harmony and reconciliation.
Read more »
Third party postal vote applications turn up in mailboxes ahead of Voice referendumPostal vote applications for the Voice referendum will open no later than Monday.
Read more »
Labor must plan for Voice failure: Marcia LangtonThe Indigenous academic and longtime campaigner said she would have no part in a second referendum, as proposed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
Read more »
Consultation needed to end the cycle of disadvantageLetter writers have their say on the Voice, Qantas and urban planning.
Read more »
Tens of thousands of Indigenous Australians unable to vote on VoiceTens of thousands of Indigenous Australians will be unable to vote in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
Read more »