What are we voting for?
Are we voting for “closing the gap,” recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution or a Voice to Parliament that is a pathway to a Treaty and Truth telling?
There are currently many ATSI voices to the Minister for Indigenous Australians and executive government that speak for the disadvantaged and marginalized.
For example, the National Indigenous Australian Agency provides advice to the Prime Minister and Minister for Indigenous Australians on implementation of “closing the gap” measures in consultation with indigenous Australians.
It has 1,300 employees across Australia.
There is a national agreement (2020) that all governments and Coalition of Peaks work together to close the gap.
The Coalition of Peaks consists of 80 organizations which are charged with delivering services that have been prioritized by ATSI people.
Given this, do we need another level of bureaucracy enshrined in the Constitution?
NO campaign leader Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says these organizations, along with the Minister for Indigenous Australians, should be held to account for their financial and services delivery performance in closing the gap.
Noel Pearson and others have been saying for many years that the Voice is the pathway to a Treaty with repatriations and Truth Telling.
This creates separatism and victim-blaming for a past that no current living person had anything to do with.
I want a positive future for the disadvantaged Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and marginalized – with practical outcomes and less bureaucracy.
This is one of many reasons why I am voting NO.
Pamela Dalgliesh
Howes Creek Road
