The View from the Ship, and The View from the Shore
A Nation Divided: The Indigenous Voice to Parliament
H. A. G. Longstaff
OUR NATION HAS BEEN DIVIDED on the issue of the Voice to Parliament since Albanese’s campaign promise, to hold a referendum on the topic before he became Prime Minister in May 2022. But firstly, what is the Voice?
The Voice is a way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to directly advise all levels of government regarding issues that affect their lives. It originated as a key part of the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. There are many differing views on the topic, and a wide range of recent polls are showing that the Yes Vote has fallen below 50%, and in some cases, the No Vote has overtaken.
The Campaign for the Yes started very strongly with 65% support in August 2022, but since then, polling has been trending downwards and has just tipped below 50% support in recent polls. However, large swathes of the population admit to being undecided or ‘up for grabs’. This begs the question to undecided voters come voting day: Will the Voice make a substantial difference to the problems affecting our First-Nations Australians? An Indigenous Senator, The Hon. Jacinta Price argues the negative. She is deeply concerned with the risk involved with constitutionally enshrining a voice with “no detail, no understanding of functions, no understanding of the way people will be appointed or elected.” Furthermore, Indigenous Advocate, Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO, expressed his disappointment with Prime Minister Albanese in an article in the Australian Financial Review after the new Federal Government failed to reinstate hundreds of long-standing bans on alcohol in remote communities and homeland communities across the Northern Territory. When confronted in Alice Springs, he said: “Bizarrely, Albanese thought this would be a good opportunity to plug his proposed Voice to Parliament. As if that will change any of this. It won’t. The Voice to Parliament won’t lead to any practical improvements in Aboriginal lives.”. However, a large majority of the Indigenous Australian population is staunchly against this, and frankly, it is their opinions that matter the most when discussing a referendum that, if passed, will change the lives of the entire Indigenous population.
The Voice referendum has been strongly supported by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for its duration, “This is a modest and gracious request for reconciliation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If we don’t recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples in our constitution this year, when Australians will have the opportunity to do so, when will we?” If the Voice is not passed, it will lead to Indigenous Australians feeling disenfranchised and not appreciated in our nation. Australia needs to take concrete actions to right the wrongs of our past. Since the first English settlers landed on Australia’s shores in 1788, Indigenous Australian people have been mistreated, disrespected and unrecognised. Less than 55 years ago, Indigenous Australian children were still being purloined from their families and forced to assimilate into white, Western culture. Since then, there has been a formal apology from PM Kevin Rudd in 2008, but few actual steps have been taken to reverse the impacts of the Stolen Generation on Indigenous Australians. A way to change this is by enshrining and acknowledging the First Australians in our constitution.
If the referendum, which requires a double majority to pass, does so, it will add the following to our constitution:
“Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
- There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
Furthermore, the stipulations in the Voice risk being too vague where the Voice will have the power to make laws “on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples” this could lead to the Voice being able to influence legislation that affects all Australians and thus also Indigenous Australians. The Voice in its current format will allow the Voice to interfere with basically all legislation, such as trade agreements and national security documents and even the decisions made by the Reserve Bank (which even the PM cannot do).
Clearly, the voice won’t be a panacea for the injustices of the past. But it may well be a large step of hope in the right direction for many. But is it the correct one? It’s obviously impossible for me to cover the plethora of differing perspectives and opinions on this revolutionary topic. We could debate the pros and cons for eternity, but our elected representatives have put a model to us, so when deciding whether to vote yes or no, what we really need to decide is: How will a No Vote affect Australia’s population and Australia’s standing amongst other nations?