As someone who has worked in, and observed, politics for my entire career, I know that decisions are made by governments and parliaments every day that affect people’s lives. Often the impacts are subtle, sometimes they are profound. As a registered lobbyist I know that decisions are almost always influenced by the voices of individuals and interest groups that can afford to navigate the corridors of power. Often the results of this influence are subtle, sometimes they are profound. For the most part, society is either ignorant or apathetic to this dynamic. I fail to see how establishing a highly transparent mechanism to allow first nations people to influence decisions that fundamentally affect them is in any way remarkable. Indeed, it carries far less risk of abuse than the status quo of political influencing. Society tolerates nameless, faceless people (like me) influencing government decisions every day of the week – The Voice is not the threat it is being made out to be. Again, drawing on my professional experience, I know that if the referendum goes down tomorrow it will take every shred of political will down with it. There will be no treaty. There will be no truth telling. And the status quo will roll on. And that, sadly, will suit the people who currently have the loudest voices in the corridors of power just fine.
💯
Bridget Wall
10mo
This! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
David Nicholson
10mo
Well said Michael Stedman
Director at Weathering Change
10moIt is horrifying how many people think the problem of inequality is better than allowing the (shreds left of 60k years of knowledge about living on this continent) to directly advise our government. Most especially as our colonial government faces climate change with a mere 200yr awareness of this continent. To me, a no vote is an Australian tragedy of self-destruction over listening. It makes me very very sad. But ... let's see. The votes are not yet counted, and perhaps people are more positive than the polls indicate.