Australian Politics -- from June 2023

[Bacchusfox]

@LeonBaker4Eva

It’s in the full document.

I took you at your word Daz, and re-read the whole document. I cannot find what you have posted, can you please point at where this has been written or where it have been promoted.

Mrs Fox and I, my Sister, her Adult Children and three of our Grandkids, walking proudly yesterday in Melbourne with our indigenous Daughter-in-Law and her two kids, our indigenous Grandkids. It was a moving moment for us to be together in a positive, motivated mob of people, as a Family.

While I am not convinced that a YES vote will prevail, the huge numbers around Australia making their Voice heard made me feel the best I have in many years about our Nation’s future.

[simmo41]

[Lawry]

@LeonBaker4Eva

New poll out tonight with No ahead in every State

Which poll is this ?

[bigallan]

The race power in Section 51.xxvi, of the Constitution accords Parliament the power to make laws for any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws.
The race power that was in the Constitution from day one, but amended in 1967 by referendum.m
So yes, the Parliament could legislate to provide special finance to Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
However, the Constitution does not empower the Parliament to accord any legislation permanent status or which would limit the powers of Parliament to rescind or amend legislation.
Any Act allocating finance to any race in perpetuity to a percentage of GDP would be unconstitutional.

[Bacchusfox]

Referendum Disinformation

My name is Senator Jana Stewart, and I’m a Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman with links to country along the Murray River in Victoria.

Last week, a deceptive letter pretending to be from the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria was distributed to a town in northwest Victoria, not far from my hometown of Swan Hill.

I felt sick when I first heard about this.

It’s not even the first time we’ve seen misinformation and disinformation playing out in the media, and history shows that this will only get worse as we move closer to referendum day.

Every Victorian should be furious about the dirty tactics used by the No campaign. They have resorted to outright lies and fear-mongering because they know that when Australians have the facts, they are overwhelmingly saying Yes .

I’ve met with community members across regional Victoria. I’ve spoken with people on their front doorstep when knocking on doors in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Victorians are keen to learn more about a Voice to Parliament. Victorians want to build a better country. Victorians understand the importance of listening to local communities.

Because of course, the Voice is about listening . Listening to Aboriginal people about matters that affect our lives, so governments can make better decisions to address the challenges facing Aboriginal people in this country. It’s not rocket science.

Growing up, I sat in a classroom with a life expectancy over a decade less than my classmates . Twenty years later, my 7-year-old son faces statistics that tell us he is more likely to go to prison than to university . This is in our country, this is today.

This is not just about me or my family. The same is true for First Nations people in your footy and netball teams, in your workplaces, those who are friends with your kids at primary school, and those working in your local café or supermarket. We are people in your community - our community.

Through the referendum, First Nations people around the country are putting trust in our communities to do the right thing.

We’ve had enough of the dodgy tactics of the No campaign – this is above politics. When Victorians are armed with the facts, when they hear the truth, they understand that only by voting Yes in this referendum will First Nations people see practical progress.

This is why every conversation matters. This is why I need you to join me in the fight against misinformation.

On October 14, when Australians vote on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Let’s walk together to a better future for all Australians.

In solidarity,

Senator Jana Stewart
Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba
Labor Senator for Victoria

[saladin]

@wimmera1

But it’s such a Greens/shoot yourself in the foot take to say we don’t want a voice we want Treaty.

I know at least three people who are voting No because they’ve decided that the Voice is the first step towards what they’ve decided will be an inherently unbalanced and unfair Treaty. That’s the real objection they have. And I’m not sure how you argue against an entirely predicted “future” . “This won’t happen”. “I believe it will”. “Why?” “Because that’s what they’ll do” .

Either way, raising Treaty right now is likely to torpedo the entire process on October 14. And I agree with you, there’ll be no Treaty for decades following a resounding No in October. Fanciful to think otherwise.

But we’re through the looking glass now, when you have Thorpe - who thinks the country is racist to its core and labels everyone as having stolen land - campaigning for the same outcome as those who are part of that racist core.

This ship is sinking. Rapidly.

[bigallan]

The No Vote placards have a slogan ‘Labor’s Risky Voice’, with ‘Risky ‘ highlighted in red.
Dutton and Pesutto no doubt have done a risk assessment that their stance will wrest back seats for the Lbs.

[ArthurD]

@Bacchusfox

We’ve had enough of the dodgy tactics of the No campaign – this is above politics. When Victorians are armed with the facts, when they hear the truth, they understand that only by voting Yes in this referendum will First Nations people see practical progress.

“Dodgy” is a rather mild term for the fearmongering tactics of the official NO campaign, let alone the worse stuff from some of its supporters.

That is a good reason not to vote “NO” unless there really was something to fear from making a completely empty symbolic gesture AGAIN.

The reason the YES campaign has gone down is because it has not advanced ANY explanation of the claim:

only by voting Yes in this referendum will First Nations people see practical progress

Whatever they won’t do to fix actual problems they still won’t do after the referendum, whatever the result. They just aren’t listening and won’t.

A resounding failure of this empty mush is more likely to stimulate actually listening and thinking about what to do.

But it would be better if that resounding failure was seen to have resulted from a large informal vote than by an even larger NO vote that helps both the fear mongers and the “lets all be reconciled about a great vibe” continue to remain smug.

The campaign is already a resounding failure and would remain so whether or not the referendum was passed.

So better to vote WHY and send a different message from the ones both “sides” are promoting.

After the smug celebrations by either the fearmongers or the vibemongers, at least the question would remain hanging in the air - WHY did some people reject both sides?

[Bacchusfox]

@ArthurD

So better to vote WHY and send a different message

All WHY does is confirm that there are many farking stupid people all over Australia.

Seriously Arthur, the whole question is not complex at all. The Voice is about respect and recognition, and providing First Nations People in Australia with the opportunity to be heard. If you want to know WHY they deserve respect and recognition, and to be heard, then there are many eminent Australians who have made it plain for all to read, listen and view.

[Heffsgirl]

There is zero chance of a treaty if we can’t pass this relatively straightforward (in my opinion) recognition and voice.

[Humble_Minion]

Yep.

If No wins, Treaty is dead for probably two generations. A bit like Howard’s referendum killed any prospect of the Republic, to a point where nobody’s talking about having another go even now, coming up on 30 years later.

The lesson that both major parties would learn from a clear No result is to go absolutely no further down the Reconciliation road, for fear of the bogan vote. Dutton says he’d hold a new referendum, on recognition. He’s clearly lying just to confuse the issue during the referendum campaign.

[ArthurD]

@bigallan

Dutton and Pesutto no doubt have done a risk assessment that their stance will wrest back seats for the Lbs.

Yep. Same risk assessment that ALP got wrong when it decided to prefer to present it as a “Labor achievement” that the Coalition would oppose.

Neither side was making risk assessments about whether it would actually achieve anything about the severe problems facing marginalised indigenous people. Their sole concerns were about winning seats in a future election.

I’m not sure Dutton made a risk assessment about the implications of deferring to Price as leader of the “No” campaign. She’s already (politely) challenging his ridiculous promise to hold another pointless referendum on “recognition”.

The “stupid” Jacinta Price leading the No Campaign is now emerging as representative of a significant force that will have to be taken seriously by both “sides” (and is already positioned as shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs to have some real impact):

Paul Kelly did actually notice what happened in that video people are advised not to watch of Jacinta Price at the National Press Club

Speaking from the heart

Her performance at the NPC was astonishing for a politician elected only last year. Price cuts through. Her content is forthright, strident, yet compelling. Price is persuasive. She says things other politicians can’t say or would never dream of saying. She is going to become popular because she deals in common sense. She wants a united country, Aboriginal people in a broad Australia, not endless demands for separate rules, norms and institutions.

She speaks from the ground up, but she’s smart. Australians look at her face and know who this woman is. Price arrives culturally free. She speaks from the heart. She doesn’t speak the reconciliation vernacular or the culture of Aboriginal dispossession. Other politicians seem reluctant to challenge her. But that will change. The progressive elites will try to destroy her. She’s dangerous. Does she realise how dangerous her message is? She will unleash forces that will reverberate through the left and right of politics for years.

[ArthurD]

@Bacchusfox

If you want to know WHY they deserve respect and recognition, and to be heard, then there are many eminent Australians who have made it plain for all to read, listen and view.

Many eminent people will join many others in continuing to think that their opponents are stupid because they have repeatedly and plainly told them what to think and they are not thinking it.

I’m not claiming that you will not remain completely certain that others are “farking stupid people”.

But some will start thinking.

L8R gone

[Humble_Minion]

@ArthurD

Paul Kelly did actually notice what happened in that video people are advised not to watch of Jacinta Price at the National Press Club

The fact that Paul Kelly (not the singer) gave fawning approval to a speech by a Coalition pollie No campaigner is the most predictable thing in Predictablesville. He’s the editor of the Australian, brown-nosing the right wing of politics is his entire reason for existence. He would have said the same if Price had just stood up on stage and sang I’m A Little Teapot.

[Lawry]

@Heffsgirl

There is zero chance of a treaty if we can’t pass this relatively straightforward (in my opinion) recognition and voice.

I’m an optimistic YES wins and if it doesn’t we will get a much better focus on the lives of indigenous Australians. Having the referendum is a win already ….the eyes of the nation on the plight of indigenous Australians and how we can best close the gap is a positive

On treaties - we will get State based treaties no matter what happens with the Voice

[Heffsgirl]

@Lawry

@Heffsgirl

There is zero chance of a treaty if we can’t pass this relatively straightforward (in my opinion) recognition and voice.

I’m an optimistic YES wins and if it doesn’t we will get a much better focus on the lives of indigenous Australians. Having the referendum is a win already ….the eyes of the nation on the plight of indigenous Australians and how we can best close the gap is a positive

I see it differently. Given I think the referendum proposal is a minimum of what we can do, a no will be devastating. It won’t lead to some miraculous coming together. That is the purpose of the referendum.

[tom]

If you listened to what he said rather than what you wanted to hear you would know he said he was opposed to A treaty as it would be ridiculous!!!
He Did say there would need to multiple treaties as there wasnt a nation before colonisation but rather many separate tribes.

but we know black people who dont share the opinions of the ALP zealots here are stupid

[bigallan]

I actually watched him live and it’s what he said.

[Houli_Dooli]

@Lawry

I’m an optimistic YES wins and if it doesn’t we will get a much better focus on the lives of indigenous Australians. Having the referendum is a win already ….the eyes of the nation on the plight of indigenous Australians and how we can best close the gap is a positive

On treaties - we will get State based treaties no matter what happens with the Voice

I’m a pessimistic YES, don’t think my vote will make much of a difference.

Treaties - maybe will happen, we might win a flag before every state has one though.

[Lawry]

@Heffsgirl

I see it differently. Given I think the referendum proposal is a minimum of what we can do, a no will be devastating. It won’t lead to some miraculous coming together. That is the purpose of the referendum.

I understand your point ……I’m remain optimistic