Foxy, the main reason that the GAP is not being closed is that there are too many aboriginal leaders who would come off the government teat if that were to happen.
As I have observed previously, there is already aboriginal representation in the parliament in approximate proportion to the greater population so what more do you wish for, more corrupt bodies like ATSIC? Give me a break.

David

Joe, this is some of what I was referring to.

https://federation.edu.au/current-students/starting-at-federation/scholarships/indigenous-scholarships

David

ALTRAV,

It was the Turnbull Government that
appointed a Referendum Council, which held dialogue
meetings around the country led by Pat Anderson and Megan
Davis (check who they are).

The result was the Uluru
Statement from the Heart, which called for a Voice to
Parliament. The Voice was to be a body to represent the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and advise
the parliament on legislation that affected them.

But the details were not included in the statement, and that
was the reason it was dismissed. Now however the Advisory
Group is working with national and regional bodies towards
a blueprint for a Voice to Government and will report to
the Minister who will be able to take a workable body to
Cabinet.

A Referendum to change the Constitution is being considered
as a separate matter but Minister Wyatt has said it won't
occur in this term of government.

Those are the facts. What you or I think about all this
has no bearing on the matter. We will get our chance to
have a say - when and if the Referendum comes about.

Regarding Marriage Equality? - More than
60% of Australians who took part (the ones who chose not to
don't count) did cast a yes vote, with a turnout coming close to
80% of the record-high 16 million Australians on the
electoral roll. And as I stated previously - this result
becomes more impressive when you delve into the data.
Anyway, like it or not - that's irrelevant. The
legislation did pass.

Dear David,

Thank You for your civil and rational responses.

They are appreciated.

It will be interesting to see what if anything the government
decides to do regarding the Indigenous people. Scott Morrison
and Ken Wyatt have promised to work together to get a good
and fair outcome.

I think that the same people who voted for marriage equality
would vote for the Voice, because it's obvious that the
Aboriginal people should have a say in what's happening
to them.

See you on another discussion.

Take care.
Stay safe.

Foxy,

You write correctly, that " .... the Aboriginal people should have a say in what's happening to them."

Of course, of course, of course. And they already have those rights, through a multitude of organisations and media. And have had those rights and channels, for pushing fifty years, since the days of "New Dawn" and "Identity".

Not to mention a Minister who is also Indigenous. And his advisory council. And members of parliament, often ministers, in each State and territory, not to mention all manner of advisory committees in each state and territory.

I'm getting too old for silly and pointless arguments; sorry.

Joe

These are the very things I/we refer to when we talk about handouts and leg-ups.
The difference with my objections has to do with the fact that all of the applicants for these special assistance payouts, are not blacks, but the wannabees.
They are the fakes, who promote themselves as BLACKS when they are clearly, at best, different shades of grey.
Which under any scrutiny or assessment, overwhelmingly concludes they are of mixed race/blood, and absolutely not entitled to call themselves black!
So if we are going to have a discussion about blacks, lets talk about blacks, not some other race or mob who want to call themselves black because of some kind of gain, albeit financial, social or personal.
Those NOT lying or trying to con the rest of the Aussie people are well aware of the greed, averace and deceit these greys practice, even though they of course deny taking advantage of the system with stupid and absolute bollocks like, we "relate" to being black.
The fact that the rest of the country is actually letting these social rejects get away with lying and cheating is beyond me, but I shouldn't be surprised, when you get these mental and emotional deficients actually facilitating these social rejects, the greys, the majority, or the rest of Australia is fighting a losing battle, unless the same majority drop their complacency and voice their true feelings and the fact that they reject the grey movement as it is a simple cash grab, and as such completely unjustified.
And so it must stop, those benefitting from these payouts MUST be made to EARN any money they get, and then and only then will we have a fair and equitable system where we are all truly equal with no preferential treatment to one group over another.
And finally, the blacks have done NOTHING, NOTHING, to justify getting anything nor being held up as some kind of cultural wonders for us or anyone else to look up to or certainly NOT revere.
Remember 60,000 years, and they have done NOTHING, for themselves or anyone else!

A suggestion:

"This is the Constitution of the Nation of Australia encompassing all of its States and Territories operating as a democratic multicultural and inclusive society of Australian Citizens of many cultures including Australian Indigenous Peoples all cooperating individually and collectively in abidance with the Nation's laws as duly enacted and acting in the best interests of the Nation and of all of its citizens and welcoming of visitors acting in abidance with the Nation's laws and prescribed conventions."

"This Constitution of the Nation of Australia recognizes that various groups of Indigenous Peoples inhabited various parts of the Nation's now identified national territory prior to the commencement of non-indigenous settlement of these lands and these Indigenous Peoples and their descendants are recognized as the first Australian Citizens and are held equal to and indivisible from all other non-indigenous Australian Citizens."

"The legal ownership and possession of land and property and resources within the Nation of Australia is and will be as may be determined in accordance with Australian Law as enacted and prescribed."

"One Nation under the Sun equal and indivisible as the Nation of Australia."
(CTD)