Australian Aboriginals already have many voices funded by taxpayers
There has been much talk of late about the Albanese government’s relentless push to hold a referendum to give Indigenous Australians a “Voice” in parliament.
The Voice is being touted as empowering and recognising Australian’s first nations peoples sovereignty over the Australian continent and its’ adjacent islands via constitutional reform.
There is currently scant detail being offered about what the Voice would mean for All Australians and how it would affect decision making within the Australian Parliament, but they push on regardless.
What most Australians are probably not aware of is that Australia already has a Voice to Parliament in the form of the National Indigenous Australians Agency or NIAA which was established via Executive Order signed by the Governor-General on 29 May, 2019.
The purpose of the NIAA as stated on their website is, “The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) works in genuine partnership to enable the self-determination and aspirations of First Nations communities. We lead and influence change across government to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them.”
As of July 2022, there are and 8 senators and 3 members of the House of Representatives who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and lets not forget the loudest mouthpiece of all…..Our ABC and Landline.
And also not to be forgotten, the disaster created by the Hawke government that was ATSIC. The agency was dismantled in 2004 in the aftermath of corruption allegations and litigation involving its chairperson, Geoff Clark. This example of a voice for Australia’s first nations people should never be repeated.
So, it begs the question, if we already have a Voice to parliament via the NIAA and Australia’s first nations people are already well represented in parliament, and by our ABC, why the great push to change our constitution that currently represents all Australians and not one race?
Thanks to Viv Forbes for references.
And listen here:
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/outsiders/australia-already-has-a-voice-to-parliament-with-the-national-indigenous-australians-agency/video/acda9b2fa37a02e2f60183503c192e5f And at least one state (South Australia), aims for its own Indigenous Voice:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-11/south-australia-first-jurisdiction-indigenous-voice-parliament/102082662
