If we say NO to the Voice What is the Better Way ?

 

In this post I submit that the time has come to move debate about the Voice on to the next level. That is setting out basic elements of the  “better way”.

It is not enough for NO campaigners to point out the multitude of glaring deficiencies in the YES case. We must present a viable alternative in the best long term interests of all Australians.

In recent speeches the Prime Minister Mt Albanese has criticised the Liberal/National coalition’s opposition to the Voice proposal saying…” You cannot say it will change the entire system of government and then say you will legislate the Voice. Because that is what they are saying. You cannot say it will promote racial division and then say you will legislate for the Voice. Cannot say it will not make a positive difference but then say you will legislate for the Voice…”

He does have a point which aims at a weakness in the position currently being adopted by the Lib/Nat coalition.

This is ambivalence leading to lack of clear statement defining a better way.

Australians hate politicians who dither and prevaricate and say one thing today and another thing the next day. They respect leaders who are prepared to walk the hard road to champion policies which are initially unpopular with some sections of the community but are best for the nation in the long term.

When I boil down the Voice debate to the bare essentials and cut through the argy-bargy of the day-to-day cut and thrust of performative politics It seems to me the issue at the heart of it all is really quite simple.

Here it is:

Do we want Australian society to be defined by sectarian division or equality ?

If we had a national plebiscite tomorrow how many Australians would say they are in favour of sectarian division as the basic organising principle of our society ?

A few, maybe. Some neo-nazis or other fringe group members. But I think the great majority would be very clear they want equality for all regardless of ethnic affiliation, age, sex, religion, skin colour or wealth.  That is the central principle of a democratic society. One person, one vote.

Since the 1967 referendum sectarian division has been the principle guiding aboriginal policy. This approach has failed. “The gap” has not closed.

The Voice is the next phase of sectarian division, leading to aboriginal sovereignty as mentioned five times in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

If equality  is our guiding principle and I contend that it must be, then our national approach to policy for aborigines or those claiming to be aborigines or people of any other ethnic or religious or any other identifiable group will be entirely and unambiguously different. It will not involve a special Voice and will not involve “recognition” of any group by ethnic, ethno-political, religious or any other affiliation.

History books can tell the stories of the many people who make up our multicultural society. The Constitution does not “recognise” any particular group and no argument has been made by anyone as to why it should.

Here is my proposal:

The problem with aboriginal policy is that it exists in any form whatsoever.

The specific policies which I propose are

1. First we clear the public domain of magical thinking, vote NO to the Voice proposal  and make way for a more reasoned debate based on evidence.

2. Ensure that all support services are based on need and that recipients have access to the best available depth and breadth of support available.   Progressively defund benefits and programmes for people whose only claim is that  they are or claim to be aborigines but otherwise present no demonstrated need for special benefit. Merge existing aborigine-only services with mainstream services over a period of 15 years.

3. Establish a Land Rights and Native Title Commission with a tenure of 50 years to help resolve the many problems embedded in  current arrangements. In particular the problem that title to land acquired under land rights legislation is held by a corporation and provides individuals and families with no negotiable stake in the enterprise.

4. Establish a transitional voluntary affirmative action programme to enable people currently existing in the purgatory of native outstations to move to locations where they can find a better quality of life.

5. Repeal part 26 of Section 51 of the Australian Constitution which enables the Australian Parliament to  …. “make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to….the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws…”

This was written at the end of the 19^th Century when it was thought there were different “races” of humans. We now know there is only one species of humans.

6. Remove from the national census the question asking people if they identify as Aborigine or Torres Strait Islander. It is no longer usefully possible to determine who is and who is not an aborigine and the question only feeds sectarian division in Australian society.

Andrew Smallman

August 2023