Australia Constitutional Change

There is no dispute about recognition.

There is about The Voice, some reasonable about clarity and will it make a difference.

Marcia Langton has stated that The Voice will ensure advice is transparently tabled in Parliament, no more lost and ignored reports from the myriad of committees. This seems like a sound reason to support The Yes case.

Amazing what chatgt can come up with; seems to get to the points of the matter.

The arguments in favor of recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution include:

• Acknowledgment of Australia’s history: Recognition in the Constitution would acknowledge the history of Indigenous Australians and their long-standing connection to the land.
• Addressing past injustices: It would recognize the injustices and harm caused by policies such as forced removal of children from their families, and promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
• Advancing Indigenous rights: Recognition could help protect Indigenous rights, and promote greater self-determination and decision-making power for Indigenous Australians.
• Strengthening the nation: Acknowledging Indigenous Australians in the Constitution would contribute to a sense of national unity and pride, and enhance Australia’s reputation as a fair and inclusive society.
• Supporting treaty negotiations: Constitutional recognition could facilitate the negotiation of treaties or other agreements between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, providing a foundation for greater cooperation and mutual respect.

The Voice to Parliament refers to a proposed advisory body to the Australian Parliament that would represent the interests of Indigenous Australians. The arguments against the Voice to Parliament include:

• It is seen as potentially divisive: Some argue that creating a separate representative body for Indigenous Australians could create division and resentment among the broader population. (this is possible, especially if the place of indigenous people is not acknowledged)
• It is seen as unnecessary: Critics argue that Indigenous Australians already have various representative bodies, such as the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, and that creating another advisory body would be redundant. (possible point, but there is no reason why this should be the case, taking on-board Langton’s comment, it is likely to improve effectiveness and efficiency of advise getting actioned or at least formally dealt with.)
• It could undermine the principle of equality: Opponents argue that creating a separate advisory body based on race could undermine the principle of equality and lead to calls for other groups to have their own representative bodies. (again, possible, but there is inequality now, dignity is lacking, there is no veto power not mandatory nature of advice, it is to give a rightful place to indigenous peoples, not as separate but as privileged as ‘here first and disposed’, about self-esteem.)
• It may have limited impact: Some argue that the proposed advisory body may not have enough power or influence to effect meaningful change. (yes, possible but it would not be able to be hidden as easily)
• It could be used as a political tool: There are concerns that the Voice to Parliament could be used by politicians for their own purposes, rather than to represent the interests of Indigenous Australians. (so what)

The arguments in favor of the Voice to Parliament, or an advisory body to the Australian Parliament that would represent the interests of Indigenous Australians, include:

• Ensuring Indigenous voices are heard: The Voice to Parliament would provide a formal channel for Indigenous Australians to have their voices heard in the national policy-making process.
• Promoting greater self-determination: The proposed advisory body would help promote greater self-determination for Indigenous Australians, giving them a say in decisions that affect their lives.
• Enhancing decision-making: The Voice to Parliament would bring a valuable Indigenous perspective to the policy-making process, promoting more informed and effective decision-making.
• Addressing historical injustice: The proposed advisory body is seen as a means of addressing historical injustices and recognizing the ongoing impact of colonization on Indigenous Australians.
• Strengthening democracy: The Voice to Parliament would enhance democracy by ensuring that all Australians have a say in the decisions that affect them, regardless of their background or ethnicity.