As support for The Voice continues to head south at an unprecedented rate those supporting it are desperately recalibrating their approach.
The Voice, which would see the inclusion of a whole new chapter into Australia’s Constitution, seeks to provide recognition for the so-called First Nations peoples of Australia and provide for a body with unprecedented powers to consult with government on all matters, according to its proponents.
The proposal is dividing the Australian and Aboriginal communities as well. Some descended from Indigenous communities in Australia before the arrival of the Europeans prefer to be called Aborigines rather than “First Nations” people—and so the train wreck continues for the proponents of The Voice.
Most recently the Western Australian Labor government introduced and passed legislation giving Australian people an insight as to what might confront them should The Voice succeed at the referendum to be held later this year.
Its overreach and the resultant havoc within all sectors of the community, in particular the rural sector, led to a popular grassroots revolt that saw the Western Australian (WA) government repeal the law in near record time.
While not worthy of remaining on the statute books the pressure to have it removed from the promoters of The Voice would have been immense—especially from Canberra, the nation’s capital. Something which of course it has studiously denied.
The dilemma for the proponents of The Voice is that despite it being sold as a modest proposal, more information continues to emerge revealing the proposal is anything but modest.
Rather than just a meek statement of recognition The Voice would be a radical overthrow of the principles that have made Australia the envy of the world.
Equality before the law, such as “one vote one value” would be jettisoned in favour of privileged input to government decision-making by a select group, based on race of all things, which is not even afforded to elected backbench members of Parliament.
By trying to show off his left-leaning credentials, new WA Premier Roger Cook outdid himself and helped to further derail the faltering campaign for federal The Voice.
Having been in office for less than two months his inexperience as premier was put on humiliating display for all to witness.
After only five weeks in operation, the much-hailed “historic” Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act was repealed.
With the repeal came the apology that it was confusing and caused division. The government had listened, the people were told. The government got it wrong, they said.
Humbling and unedifying a spectacle as it was it did highlight the flexibility which attaches to legislation. Pick up an error or realise the good intentions in the legislation were in fact the path to Hell it can be quickly amended or repealed.
Not so with a constitutional change, which The Voice is, that will be embedded in the Constitution.
Any attempt to repeal similar changes would be tortuous and time-consuming during which the problems exposed would simply mushroom wreaking havoc throughout the community and economy.
This is why constitutional changes need to be considered carefully, robustly, and with an inquiring mind as to any hidden unforeseen consequences.
Simply dismissing questioning and probing as “racist” or “relentless negativity” pushes the public ever further away from voting for The Voice.
The wary Australian public can sniff the male bovine excrement of politicians a mile away.
The WA Premier Cook has unwittingly delivered on a platter a campaign winner for the No campaign against The Voice.
Claiming good intentions has been exposed as not good enough. The devil is always in the detail and the Australian people are being denied exactly that.
