Australia should vote 'no' on indigenous special rights referendum

Here in Australia, our politicians are promoting a divisive and racist change to our constitution by referendum - the creation of an indigenous "voice" with undefined powers. Voting is underway now.

According to Reuters:

SYDNEY, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Support for a proposal to amend Australia's constitution to enshrine recognition of Indigenous people has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although most voters intend to reject the change in a referendum now underway.
Early voting on whether to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create a "Voice to Parliament" to give them an avenue to advise the government on matters affecting First Nations Australians began on Monday.

"Indigenous" means "born here," so most of us are indigenous. And for all of us, our earliest Australian ancestors came from somewhere else.

But these politicians are referring to the Australian aboriginal minority, who like all Australians, had ancestors from somewhere else, but are the oldest inhabitants on the continent.

To divide indigenous Australians on the basis of skin color or length of ancestry is more about politics than about justice.

We are all Australians and constitutional changes that promote apartheid policies should be rejected.

Australia is now home to Aboriginals, as well as those descended from Islanders, English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Italian, German, Scandinavians, Melanesians, Greeks, Kiwis, Afghans, Africans, Chinese, and others. Most have made permanent homes here. All who embrace Australian citizenship and obey Australian law should be treated equally before the law.

People identifying as Aboriginals already have eleven voices in federal Parliament - more than justified by their numbers in the population.

Moreover, huge government departments and billions of dollars are already representing aboriginal interests. The "voice" will create another layer of race-based bureaucrats, and delay every significant political decision.

The Australian government has indicated that it has put on hold a proposal to hold a vote on removing King Charles III as its head of state.

...

The comments follow last year’s defeat for the government in a separate referendum, in which Australians overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67916228

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