I had an email from Reconciliation WA ths morning. I'll quote it here.
"Australia's reconciliation journey continues
Yesterday’s referendum result is a profound disappointment to us all.
Despite this setback the work of reconciliation will continue. It is needed now more than ever.
Reconciliation WA Co-Chair Carol Innes said that Australia must now come together to turn what has often been a disappointing narrative into a shared commitment for reconciliation.
“Western Australians must ask now ourselves whether this is the standard we are prepared to accept in our society. We can do better.” Carol said.
“Whilst we are saddened by this result, this is not the first time our people have experienced setbacks to their aspirations.”
“We pay respect to the courage and example of our Elders and leaders who have walked this journey for many years.”
Reconciliation WA is buoyed by the enormous contributions of our supporters who worked the length and breadth of Western Australia during this campaign and who, as part of a movement, have worked to change the country for the better in the past 30 years.
We are encouraged by the public support of a broad range of people including Australia’s young people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Yesterday, as a nation we stumbled on our reconciliation journey. We must acknowledge and sit with this.
However, we are confident that after the dust settles, the hundreds of thousands of Western Australians who voted Yes, and those who voted No - but who are committed to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - will unite for a more just Australia.
As part of a network spanning the country, we recognise and celebrate everyone in Western Australia who showed up for recognition, for respect, and for voice, and applaud the generosity and effort of everyone involved.
Now is a time for healing.
We are determined to continue the journey of reconciliation in Western Australia and urge you to continue as well. "
There's a lot of pre-polling talk that Australia will vote "No" in the Voice referendum. That makes me worry about what could happen, and about how it will shape how our nearly-entirely-white government will talk with Indigenous people in the future. If Australia votes "No", it will be a wasted opportunity.
What are we really voting on? The screenshot here is from the AEC website, and it shows the full wording change: https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/learn/the-question.html
The photo next to it is a close-up of the ballot paper with very simplified wording.
Look at the ballot paper. It's worded in a vague way. There's no mention of the actual changes to the constitution. They could have done that, but they chose not to. This was no accident. This was a deliberate decision because Dutton wanted to create uncertainty in people's minds.
You may recall that Albo and Dutton did a lot of haggling over the wording of the changes to the constitution and possibly the voting form. It was not a requirement that Dutton got such a strong say in things; it was more of a conciliatory move by Albo who was new to being PM at the time and wanted to appear even-handed but ended-up being a walkover. It was a mistake to give Dutton that latitude, and Albo should have known him well enough to see he wasn't arguing in good faith.
For the last few months, Dutton's vague and suggestive referendum messaging to the public has been a Rorschach Test where voters can squint at Dutton's verbal inkblot and see their own uncertainties, fears, phobias, resentments, prejudices, and racism, and thus lead themself to the conclusion to vote "No".
A #VoiceToParliament can't bring about reparation payments. That needs MP support & legislation, Federally or locally (like Victoria has already done-and the sky has not fallen).
But a Voice can advise. That's all. #VoteYes#Referendum2023
I have just driven north from #Sydney on the M1, listening to “Into the bloodstream” by Archie Roach, and for at least 40km south of the Sparks Road exit, every single 110km/h sign has been altered to read “NO” - on both sides of the north bound lanes (maybe south bound as well?).
I wonder how long this has been the case.
Nearly 40 years ago I moved to #Australia from NZ and felt that I had gone backwards 20 years in terms of #Racism. (Not saying NZ was even near perfect) I thought we had progressed but the response to the #VoicetoParliament suggests it is not so. ☹️😞😕 #Yes23#Referendum2023#NSW
Simplifying the pathway to advising Parliament is one part of the #VoiceToParliament.
The other is overdue recognition of the Indigenous people living in Australia when Europeans colonised it, declaring it empty.
Both are small steps but very important for us to grow as a Nation. #VoteYes#Referendum2023
If you don't know, don't give up & let some hateful profiteer get in your head!
They'll just feed you misinformation & selfishness.
Put in the work to find the truth.
As easy as Google'ing 'voteyes' #VoteYES23Australia#Referendum2023
If you don't know, don't give up & let some hateful profiteer get in your head! They'll feed you misinformation & selfishness.
Put in the work to find the truth.
Try these sites for a start...
It's not risky or divisive to recognise Australians in a 122-year-old British-endorsed Constitution for the first time. It's just about bloody time. #VoteYes#Referendum2023#AUSPOL#VoiceToParliament
It's not risky or divisive to recognise Australians in a 122-year-old British-endorsed Constitution for the first time.
It's just bloody long overdue. #VoteYes#Referendum2023
Don't know? Find out!
I've pulled together the most important facts about the Voice Referendum into this short, easy to read web page: http://thevoicefacts.com
Pass it on if you find it helpful!
92 very simple, very straightforward words that can finally add proper recognition of Australia's First peoples to our Constitution, written. In a very different world from a time gone by.
It's easy. It matters. It's up to you Australia. #VoteYes#auspol#Referendum2023#VoteYesAustralia