"This voiceless group makes up nearly one-third of the people of Australia. Perhaps they educate their children in religious schools. Maybe they are unjabbed and remain Covid dissidents. I am guessing they value freedom and patriotism. Resent Woke corporatism. Feel that customer service no longer exists. Are ashamed of what is happening to our culture. Cheer on battlers and champion small businesses. Maybe unfurl an Aussie flag on Australia Day. Fear the coming digital surveillance state. Mourn what we have lost."
https://wentworthreport.com/2022/07/09/australias-true-voiceless/
I've had four COVID 19 innoculations, but align well with the author's other suggestions.
I served my country in the Air Force (RAAF) during the Vietnam Era and worked for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) for 15 years before it was abolished.
ATSIC was the primary body that provided indigenous Australians with a bottom-up voice to the Australian Public Service agencies providing it with a cornucopia of generous benefits not available to any other of the 97% of Australians.
ATSIC built hundreds of houses, created work programs through its Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP). It provided a variety of infrastructure and other benefits and even provided ultra-low interest mortgages for anyone who met their guidelines. (indigenous and able to repay).
ATSIC had Regional Councils of elected representatives across Australia who, at considerable expense to the taxpaying public created Regional Plans that were to direct funding to projects that communities prioritised.
In the end, like many other well-intentioned government programs, ATSIC failed.
Now there are other agencies, do-gooders and funded bodies intended to serve the interests of the 3.5% of people who are indigenous or of indigenous descent.
We have 10 current part-indigenous representatives in our Parliament who can speak for the others. We don't need to mess with our Constitution to provide a voice for indigenous Australians.
The Australian electorate will never fall for guaranteeing places for indigenous people in Parliament who are appointed on race and not ability and popular appeal.
It will never happen.
#Robinoz
PS: Race-based programs run by Australian Governments should be abolished and replaced with programs that provide help to all Australians based on genuine need
