Josephus,

If you're going to take part in this debate it has to be
based on facts. Come back to this conversation when you've
done the research and know what you are talking about.
Otherwise you will not be taken seriously and shall be
ignored. Get facts - not misinformation.

Dan

A majority YES vote will certainly "matter". Our Constitution will be reduced to a feel-good list, impossible to repair. If you never vote again, you should be voting NO in this referendum.

Having “Indigenous Citizens elected by Indigenous Voters” as members of the Voice seems fine in principle, but I am not convinced it’s a best method.

It would probably require a legal definition of “Indigenous”. That could be difficult to establish and contentious, and could easily become a major distraction in the debate.

There are already recognised organisations of established indigenous groups who are well placed to represent their communities – Ben Wyatt suggests in an article in today’s Australian linking in with the Prescribed Bodies Corporate of groups administering Native Title agreements, for example.

Indigenous people have a lower rate of voter turnout than the general population; it may not be the best way of gathering and representing their views.

I also agree with SteeleRedux that the article seems unnecessarily prescriptive. Representative organisations can make their own arrangements on how often and for how long they should meet, for example. Presumably this will vary depending on the issues before parliament. And as it is a Voice to parliament, ultimately Parliament should decide the issues it considers and how it presents its recommendations.

We also need to have a clear distinction between what should be in the Constitution, what should be in legislation, and what should be determined by the Voice members themselves.

And I’d happily stand corrected, but I’m pretty sure one parliament cannot bind future parliaments, so it is not possible to pass a law “which cannot be altered without another referendum being held” unless it is in the constitution itself..

ttbn

Sorry to say, but the outcome has already been decided. Voters become actors in the staged farce .

You’ve got more faith in those criminals than have I.

Dear Josephus,

Another question from you in bad faith but let's run with it.

The Australian Council of Social Services is an independent body advocating for the disadvantaged.

"The Australian Council of Social Service is a national advocate supporting people affected by poverty, disadvantage and inequality, and the peak council for community services nationally."

The bulk of their funding comes from the government and they give advice on policy particularly in relation to those impacted by "poverty, disadvantage and inequality".

They are consulted widely, particularly around budget time and give advice to government on how policy will affect those they speak for.

Quote
We work at the national level, to influence changes to federal policies and laws.
We collaborate with the State and Territory Councils of Social Service.
We support the voices of people directly affected by policy.
We are dynamic, determined and strategic.
We are uncompromising in our commitment to human rights and equity and to calling out human rights breaches and inequities.
We partner with allies in diverse sectors around common goals to maximise our combined impact.
We work to find common ground across difference.
We are non-partisan.
End quote

There are quite a few similar bodies engaged in similar advice to government.

Under your insipid philosophy they have no place as "what matters that are proposed to Government by a Voice that Government don't already know?"

It is very hard not to see your stance as racist as your objection seems to only be with a body which would represent indigenous people.

Why is that so?

"I’m pretty sure one parliament cannot bind future parliaments" (Rhian).

But, once it is enshrined in the Constitution, it would take another referendum to change it. The Voice could not be abolished like ATSIC was by the Howard Government.