The approach taken by many YES supporters in the aftermath of the referendum result is harmful for the following reasons:
- It is misrepresenting the majority of Australians.
- It is fostering division.
- It fails to provide a path forward.
- It is providing reasons for people to feel bitterness and resentment. Although the feelings may be justified, they aren’t a good strategy for finding solutions.
Instead it would be productive for YES supporters to try to understand why the majority of Australians believed The Voice would do more harm than good. Then we can together try to find a better way to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.
Here is my attempt to summarise why the majority of Australians voted no in the referendum (if you would like more details refer to this article):
- Although the vast majority of people desire better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, many also endeavour to be principled people. One of their principles is deploring racism no matter what form it takes. Racism is discrimination based on race. The voice would have determined our constitutional rights based on race. Therefore many Australians could not support the voice.
- The majority of Australians don’t want their tax dollars wasted. They want to know why the billions of dollars already being spent every year to help Indigenous Australians aren’t working. They want to hold incompetent and corrupt bureaucrats to account. They want to cut out the dead wood and improve what remains.
Since the majority of Australians believe the two points above to be true, they should be respected even if you disagree with them. YES supporters will find that, after conceding the two points above, they have more in common with NO supporters than they think, including a desire to improve the lives of disadvantaged people, and with that common ground we can unite and attempt to make progress.
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outbackjoe 
I, for one, completely agree.
Not only was it undisguised racism, to which I am opposed, but it was proposed by people who claim – loudly – to also oppose racism. The shameless lack of adherence to espoused (alleged) principles, I find even more offensive.
Could not agree more. Well said and respectful. Money spent where it’s needed most and audited for all to see.
I’m American and as you probably know, we have the same issues here (you probably “caught it” from us). I wish all right-minded people the best–stop the race-baiting.
Again OBJ you have nailed it. Precise and concise. Thank you for putting into words the thoughts I can’t.
If people and policy makers want better outcomes (for any group of people), and if they want to listen to those affected and take their views onboard in achieving those better outcomes… they can and should just get at it. A referendum isn’t necessary to progress this, and a referendum result is not standing in the way of it.
A generally accepted definition of an Indigenous People is that of the United Nations:
“Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment.
They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live.”
A reasonable interpretation of that definition is that to be able to claim a person is an Indigene he must be living traditionally according to the breadth of his traditional culture without any of the influences and trappings of modernity.
A person who lives with modern possessions and relies on modern technologies, techniques, and food sources cannot be defined to be an Indigene no matter he be a descendant from such peoples.
By this reasoning, very few if any people in Australia today should be defined to be indigenous Aborigines.
Those who own, use, or consume modern goods do not fit the definition of Indigene.
They should not be treated as such.
They should be treated as Australians with no special treatments or privileges.
Spot On !
It’s a pity Albo refuses to take Jacinta Price’s advice of a Royal Commission into child abuse and where the 40 billion is going. Just shows he is all talk !