The Voice. An Australian referendum

[ShortForBob]

Hey @LB 15 I see your favorite Senator attended an anti-trans rally near Parliament House and got tackled to the ground by Federal Police before crawling away to join a pro-trans counter rally. Seems Senator Hanson & Senator Roberts were on the anti-trans side. Some video footage of the incident here for your entertainment.

'I got pulverised': AFP reviewing incident after Thorpe pulled to ground by officer at anti-trans-rights rally

Senator Lidia Thorpe has attempted to interrupt a small crowd of anti-trans-rights protesters outside parliament before being pulled to the ground by a police officer.

www.abc.net.au

She claims she was "Pulverised" and "assaulted" by Police.

It's not funny, just undignified. She's now an independent senator so pretty ineffectual.
Maybe she should have changed her shoes before scuffling on wet grass.
Though I do wonder why, after the events in Melbourne, Keen-Minshull was given a permit to hold a rally in Canberra. people of her ilk really are not welcome here.

 

[Alhadder]

It's not funny, just undignified. She's now an independent senator so pretty ineffectual.
Maybe she should have changed her shoes before scuffling on wet grass.
Though I do wonder why, after the events in Melbourne, Keen-Minshull was given a permit to hold a rally in Canberra. people of her ilk really are not welcome here.

Didn't say it was funny. That was 007/Grumpy

 

[ShortForBob]

Didn't say it was funny. That was 007/Grumpy

Oh, I thought you said it was posted for our entertainment.
I just find her antics irritating. She's not 15 anymore.

 

[00seven]

Didn't say it was funny. That was 007/Grumpy

You talking to Meli? Is she sprouting stupid shit again?

Goes without saying... stupid shit again.

 

[ShortForBob]

How other countries are reporting The Voice and referendum change.

Interesting comparison to Norway, Sweden and Finland

Indigenous Voice: Australia PM unveils plan for historic constitution vote

The planned vote could approve a new "voice" to parliament - the first constitutional change in 46 years.

www.bbc.com

Australia's leader has unveiled crucial details of a planned referendum which could see it change its constitution for the first time in almost 50 years.
If approved, the vote later this year would establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice - a formal body for Indigenous people to give advice on laws.
PM Anthony Albanese argues it would be a "very simple" but "momentous" change.
Constitutional referendums are fairly rare - only eight of 44 have succeeded.
The Voice is being fiercely debated with support and opposition across the political spectrum.

What is the Voice to parliament?​

The Voice was recommended by a historic document in 2017 called the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Drafted by more than 250 Indigenous leaders, the statement is considered the best - though not unanimous - call to action for reforms which affect First Nations Australians.
On Thursday, Mr Albanese announced the proposed wording for a question to be put to Australians in a compulsory vote.
"A proposed law to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?"
In an emotional speech, Mr Albanese said the Voice would enshrine "recognition" that Australians "share this great island continent with the world's oldest continuous culture".
"Our nation's birth certificate should recognise this and be proud of it," he added.
Standing alongside, Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney spoke of how she had spent the first 10 years of her life "not being counted".

The proposal, still to be debated in parliament, states the Voice will "make representations" to MPs and policy makers "on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples".
However, parliament would have the power to decide on the Voice's composition, functions, powers and procedures.

What's the case for it?​

Indigenous Australians feel a "powerlessness" when tackling structural problems to improve their lives, the Uluru Statement says.
These problems include having a shorter life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians, disproportionately poorer health and education outcomes, and higher incarceration rates.
Many argue this is often because of a failure to properly consult Indigenous people on solutions.
"Non-Indigenous people [are] making decisions about communities they have never visited and people they do not know," wrote Prof Megan Davis, an Uluru Statement signatory.

What do opponents say?​

Some argue Indigenous people are already represented fairly in parliament. It currently has 11 Indigenous lawmakers - representing 4.8% of the parliament, a slightly higher percentage than the Indigenous Australian population nationwide.
But Voice supporters counter that MPs represent specific constituencies, not necessarily Indigenous interests.
Other critics say it could act like a third chamber of parliament and potentially veto legislation, but the government has ruled this out.
Support is not universal among Indigenous people, either. Some say a treaty with Indigenous people - a legally binding, negotiated agreement - should be the priority. Australia is one of the only ex-British colonies without one.

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Senator Lidia Thorpe is among those who want a formal treaty first
Many Indigenous Australians emphasise they never ceded their sovereignty or land. There are fears that being recognised in the constitution could amount to that.
And others argue it's just a symbolic gesture and that money could be better spent on immediate solutions.

What will the Voice look like in practice?​

That's not yet certain. If Australia votes yes, legislation designing the Voice will then be developed and debated.
One proposal suggests the advisory body could have 24 members - comprised of representatives from each state and territory, the Torres Strait Islands, and remote Aboriginal communities.
Mr Albanese sees the Voice being "an unflinching source of advice and accountability".

Are there global comparisons?​

Voice advocates compare it to the First Nations parliaments in Norway, Sweden and Finland for the Sami people.
They're not parliaments in the traditional sense - they are mostly consultative bodies which do not have a formal legislative function.
In Finland, for example, the government negotiates with the Sami Parliament on specific matters like land management and legislative or administrative changes affecting Sami culture.
However, Finnish laws don't prevent government authorities from forging ahead without negotiations.

Why is a referendum needed?​

Advocates say the Voice needs to be enshrined in the constitution rather than legislated. Such a change cannot happen without a referendum.
They argue this would give the Voice permanency, insulating it from partisan politics.
For it to succeed, a majority of Australians need to vote yes. There also needs to be majority support in at least four of Australia's six states.
Polling has shown about three quarters of Australians support a constitutionally enshrined Voice.
The proposal has even won the support of US basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, who will appear in promotional material.

IMAGE SOURCE,EPA
Image caption,
Shaquille O'Neal will promote the Voice's power to bring people together, Anthony Albanese says
But the result is far from assured - the last successful referendum was in 1977.
The conservative Liberal Party has previously opposed the Voice, but now says its MPs will vote to decide its position. Its junior coalition partner, the Nationals, oppose the reform.
The Greens party will support the Voice. But its previous Indigenous Affairs spokesperson, Lidia Thorpe, recently left the party over its position - she is advocating for a treaty first.

What next?​

Parliament is expected to hold a vote on the proposal in June. If approved, the referendum will happen sometime after September.
If a Voice is established, the Uluru Statement calls for a Makarrata commission - a body to supervise a process of treaty-making and truth-telling about the history of Indigenous Australians.
Implementing a Voice is also seen as likely to create further impetus for an Australian republic. Mr Albanese has already indicated a referendum on the issue is likely if he wins a second term in 2025.

 

[Alhadder]

You talking to Meli? Is she sprouting stupid shit again?

Goes without saying... stupid shit again.

Yes. She said "It's not funny, it's undignified". I said I didn't say it was funny, you did.
She also then said " thought you said it was posted for our entertainment." Wrong again I said it was for LB's entertainment. Anyway, play on

 

[00seven]

You see Dutton's spray on Thorpe? Funny that Meli has to agree with him!

 

[Happy]

For the thinking individual, Senator Thorpe does raise some burning questions:

1) Is she a simple attention whore?
2) Is she a coked-up attention whore?
3) Is she going to give the Greens some cash back for getting her elected?
4) Is she going to get some cash from the Rebels MC for possible information shared when she was on a Senate crime commission while rooting a Rebel ex-president? Or was a bit of rough reward enough?

 

[Alhadder]

For the thinking individual, Senator Thorpe does raise some burning questions:

1) Is she a simple attention whore?
2) Is she a coked-up attention whore?
3) Is she going to give the Greens some cash back for getting her elected?
4) Is she going to get some cash from the Rebels MC for possible information shared when she was on a Senate crime commission while rooting a Rebel ex-president? Or was a bit of rough reward enough?

Ya don't have to think too hard to know the answers to the first 3 questions

 

[ShortForBob]

Ya don't have to think too hard to know the answers to the first 3 questions

I think she sees herself as some latter day Truganini, warrior princess leading her people.
I've no idea what indigenous Australians think of her.

 

[ShortForBob]

Indigenous opinion.

It's a 'Yes' or 'No' referendum, but these First Nations people say Voice vote is more complex

From a 100-year-old elder in western Sydney to a young Indigenous trainee ranger in Tasmania, First Nations people across the country have differing views on a Voice to Parliament.

www.abc.net.au

In Sydney's western suburbs, Uncle Wes Marne's weathered hands are making jewellery out of beads coloured in the red, yellow and black of the Aboriginal flag.

Key points:​

• The proposed wording for the Voice to Parliament referendum was unveiled on Thursday
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the Voice as an independent, representative body for First Nations people
• Australians will vote on the Voice and constitutional recognition later this year

At 100 years of age, the Bigambul elder — who lives in Mt Druitt — has seen a lifetime of change for his people, some of it positive, but much of it failing to bridge the gap.

Now — after the prime minister yesterday announced the proposed wording for a referendum on a Voice to Parliament — Uncle Wes is considering what he’d like to see in the future.

"If we do have a Voice in Parliament, it's got to be the right people, grassroots people," he said.

"I'm not asking for university graduates or anything like that, unless they are grassroots people.

"It's got to be people who know what we need and know what we should have."

Uncle Wes Marne says "grassroots people" would need to lead a Voice to Parliament.(ABC News: Maryanne Taouk)
Once a week, Uncle Wes joins an elders-in-residence program at the Blacktown Arts Centre, where attendees share stories, create art and make connections over morning tea.

At the same gathering, Uncle Greg Simms — an elder of the Gundungurra people of the Blue Mountains and the Gadigal tribe of the Dharug Nation — also has a view on the Voice.

"I feel good about it," he said. "The thing is, they should have done this years ago, because there's so much they would have learned from Aboriginal people."

Uncle Greg Simms believes a Voice to Parliament should have been established "years ago".(ABC News: Maryanne Taouk)
At the other end of the age spectrum, Tully O'Neil believes a Voice to Parliament "would be a massive step forward for mob".

The young Trawlwoolway man is training to become a ranger on Tebrakunna country in Tasmania.

“It's taken a lot of heartache and a lot of struggle,” he said.

"And I think to have it there for younger generations to come, it's just going to be massive."

However, Mr O'Neil said, it was essential that the Voice was both powerful and reflective of all First Nations people, including younger ones like himself.

"I think consulting the community, as a whole, rather than some selected few, would make it a lot more powerful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders around Australia," he said.

"I think having a bit more sovereignty, and anything that we come up with would be more ideal — give a bit more power back to the people."

Tasmanian Tully O'Neil hopes the Voice will deliver more power to Aboriginal people.(ABC News: Bec Pridham)
He said it was important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to "stay true to our ways".

Voice to Parliament explainer​

The proposed wording of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum question has been announced, but what is required of voters? And when are Australians expected to vote?

Read more
"We just need to stay united and stay strong and be the warriors that we are."

Thousands of kilometres to the north, on Larrakia land in Darwin, Helen Secretary is adamant a Voice to Parliament is the wrong approach.

"I don't agree on the Voice. I don't agree on the wording," she said.

Ms Secretary chairs the Gwalwa Daraniki Association, which administers the communities of Kulaluk and Minmarama in Darwin.

She said her people had been neglected by governments for decades, and doubted a Voice would improve things.

Helen Secretary is not going to support the Voice to Parliament.(ABC News: Michael Donnelly)
"We have people [who,] in parliament, [who] have no idea on how community people live in their communities, because no one has come and spoken on ground to the people to ask what Indigenous people want," she said.

"This Voice is going to divide the Australian people, and I do not support it."

Legal concerns over Voice wording​

Constitutional lawyers are divided on whether the proposed wording for the Voice could face a High Court challenge if it was written into the constitution.

Read more
However, in Central Australia, Arrernte elder William Tilmouth has a very different perspective.

"I think it's high time that the voice of our people is to be recognised," the chairman of First Nations organisation Children's Ground said.

"It's taken a lot of voices from people in the past to get us here.

"And I'm really elated that we finally got to a point where we will be recognised."

Mr Tilmouth said he respected the right of people to vote against the Voice, but warned that if the referendum was unsuccessful, it will have a lasting impact.

William Tilmouth is concerned about the consequences if the Voice doesn't succeed.(ABC News: Xavier Martin)
"If the vote turns out to be 'No', then we are back another 100 years of trying to get back to where we are today," he said.

"And I think it would be a just a waste of effort and time for people to have to struggle for another 'X amount' of years, just to have their voices heard.

"I think it's opportunity now and we need to take that."

The referendum is expected to be held later this year.

 

[MikeHunt]

When she assumed the position, after the tackle, you could see her tramp stamp. Not close enough to read her message to lovers... but there it was

 

[LB 15]

Yes. She said "It's not funny, it's undignified". I said I didn't say it was funny, you did.
She also then said " thought you said it was posted for our entertainment." Wrong again I said it was for LB's entertainment. Anyway, play on

And I appreciate it. They should put Thorpe and Hanson- young in a cage match together. The Bikie slut vs the dumbest fuck to have ever been elected. Still nice to see the left tearing itself apart. Who’s meli cheering for?
Has she heard about the liberal government in Tasmania yet? Has she heard of Tasmania for that matter. Or is she still claiming the abos have been here for 60 million years.
How can a cigarette smoking moron like her have ever worked in a library?

Ya enjoying this meli? Your dumb shit communist son must be torn by this. Which fuckwit to side with. What a woke dilemma…

 

[00seven]

Speaking of cage matches...Randy's lations algetta got voice long em.

Frightening moment axe-wielding rival families clash on a suburban street in broad daylight: 'This is our land'​

Frightening moment axe-wielding rival families clash on a suburban street in broad daylight: 'This is our land'

 

[Mid]

Frightening moment axe-wielding rival families clash on a suburban street in broad daylight: 'This is our land'

that from fox ?

 

[00seven]

that from fox ?

Nah, Malak

 

[Happy]

Malak? That whitefella country.
Every home has the whitefella sacred site: Barbie/Pool shade area.
I should know, I lived there for two years.

 

[00seven]

Malak? That whitefella country.
Every home has the whitefella sacred site: Barbie/Pool shade area.
I should know, I lived there for two years.

Not seeing any whitefellas with axes?

Yunupingu passed away yesterday. That's an aboriginal voice lost.

 

[The Dark Knight]

Not seeing any whitefellas with axes?

Yunupingu passed away yesterday. That's an aboriginal voice lost.

Isn't the voice all about satisfying the wokeness of the marginals living in the inner city?

 

[00seven]

Isn't the voice all about satisfying the wokeness of the marginals living in the inner city?

I did say aboriginal voice.