Why is the indigenous voice to Parliament so controversial?

3 years ago by Narc0 to c/australia

I thought a group dedicated to ensuring the matters affecting any group of peoples are represented in Parliament would be a good thing. And if this is not "good enough", how will it have a worse outcome than voting no.

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Lenguador 9 points 3 years ago

It would literally be a non-issue if it were simply an advisory body as has been done in the past. The issue is that the supporters want to alter the constitution.

The systematic oppression of indigenous Australians started around 1869 with the introduction of the "Aborigines Protection Act", and indigenous Australians were only ceded the right to vote in 1962. So, it's no surprise that we have issues currently, as people alive today were directly or indirectly affected by those policies (and others).

In a thousand years time (hopefully a hundred years, if we're lucky), these issues will no longer be present. But the constitution will still exist, and hopefully exist far into the future. So, why add wording to a long-lived document for problems which are so short-term? Especially when altering the constitution is not necessary to effect change?

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