A Melbourne cryptocurrency trader is placing AI-generated Facebook ads with an AI-generated, brown-skinned avatar pushing the ‘No’ vote. Far-right US Christian groups are funneling money into the ‘No’ campaign, despite all major Australian faith groups declaring a resounding ‘Yes’. Independent fact-checkers have found multiple instances of misinformation in the ‘No’ side of the official Referendum pamphlet.
And, as I write, it’s been revealed that ‘No’ campaigners have instructed their call centre volunteers to sow fear and confusion with undecided voters in an attempt to trump factual arguments used by the ‘Yes’ camp.
It’s easy to become despondent. So again I’ve gone back to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which never fails to inspire me.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribes were the first sovereign Nations of the Australian continent and its adjacent islands, and possessed it under our own laws and customs. This our ancestors did, according to the reckoning of our culture, from the Creation, according to the common law from ‘time immemorial’, and according to science more than 60,000 years ago.
You can’t argue with that.
This sovereignty is a spiritual notion: the ancestral tie between the land, or ‘mother nature’, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples … This link is the basis of the ownership of the soil, or better, of sovereignty.
Indigenous peoples have retained sovereignty since 1788, alongside that of the Crown. It’s nothing new, nothing to fear.
With substantive constitutional change and structural reform, we believe this ancient sovereignty can shine through as a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.
We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.
A Voice – an advisory body. A body to discuss and come to a position on legislation that affects First Nations peoples, the most marginalised peoples in Australia. When governments listen to people about issues that affect them, they make better decisions, get better results and deliver better value for money.
Enshrining the Voice in the Constitution means it can’t be abolished, like ATSIC was in 2005. But it will always be Parliament, our elected representatives, that decides the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Voice. And Parliament will never be compelled to take the advice of the Voice – despite the fear campaign’s messages.
In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.
On 14 October we will be asked to vote on ‘A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?’
That walk across the Harbour Bridge in 2000, the Walk for Reconciliation, keeps coming to mind. Let’s walk again with our First Nations peoples – for a better Australia, for all of us.
This piece was first published in The Triangle community newspaper in October 2023.
Another terrific analysis, Jen. And yes, if only more people would read the Uluru Statement from the heart, they might understand there is nothing to fear.
Great post again Jennifer.
Back to First Principles. Uluru Statement from the Heart.
If only more people would read it, Tony.