I'm inclined to agree with Putin that the West is going a bit silly in the head. Despite promises of government neutrality in the debate the $1bn+ publicly funded ABC is going all out on the Yes side ..see today's ABC news website. The ABC got smacked down with the George Pell accusations perhaps a No result might put them in their place.

If alas the proposal gets up I predict two types of repeat outcome. Firstly this body will oppose big resource projects that create wealth while at the same time asking for more money. Current examples include a veto on the Barossa gas field and shutting Burrup Peninsula as well as several others. The second jarring outcome I'd expect is that this body will blame everybody else but themselves if metrics such as youth crime don't improve. I suggest there should be better results for the money and parliamentary representation they already have.

Any further discussion of this rotten Voice will bring only more frustration and nastiness. If people haven't made up their minds about by now, they never will. Vote no or yes when the time comes. For now, shut TFU about it.

The voice of experience is needed as never before. Another great article that deserves wide readership. Australia was inhabited by hundreds of warring tribes at the time of European settlement. To call them 'Nations' is stretching it a bit. This continent has since enjoyed 200 years of Pax Britannica and every citizen regardless of racial background should recognise and be thankful for this. The 'voice' is an unnecessary distraction from facing real problems such as cleaning up our Marxist tax system that is focussed on distribution of wealth at the expense of its creation, and kowtowing to UN decrees about limiting carbon dioxide emissions, when carbon dioxide is fundamental to life on Earth and is not a driver of a climate that drives it.

The Voice will divide intermarried aboriginal families and give those with aboriginal DNA preference over their cousins of non-indigenous heritage. This is a travesty of equality promoted by the Yes case for a voice. Dividing cousins by race is not the Australian way nor is it Christian as all persons deserve equality of opportunity under our laws.

Singling out a race or a religion or sexual preference as a basis of special treatment is third World politics and can lead to dictatorships. This happened under Hitler who singled out white Caucasians for preference over Jews.
To be true to equality of justice - VOTE NO.

When Palm Island ran out of water in the mid 90s the company I was running was asked to supply our water/energy saving equipment to the island. They had a barge running 24/7 carrying water from Townsville, which was costing a fortune.

We had a man up there for almost a month installing $24,000 worth of gear, fulfilling about half the contract. He went back about a month later & found much of the solid brass gear gone. He was told it made excellent fishing sinkers. Gear had been removed leaving open pipes, & Townsville water streaming down the gutters into the sea.

We declined to fulfill the contract & brought him home. He showed us photos of the dozen diesel fishing dories taxpayers had supplied to try to develop a fishing industry for the island. After 5 months nine were dragged up on the beach or rocks, broken, 2 were missing completely, but one was in pretty good condition. It was the one doing the sly grog run 3 nights a week.

If a voice is needed it is a taxpayer voice.

Will the Voice break Albo or the Dutz?

Says the Canberra Times in part: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8156552/the-danger-for-duttons-leadership-as-moderates-find-their-voice/

"Advocates think this year's historic Voice referendum has been boosted by the principled resignation of Peter Dutton's handpicked spokesperson on Indigenous matters, Julian Leeser.

...The splintering of frontbench solidarity hangs a lantern over Dutton's high-risk stance. And, it increases the moral pressure on remaining moderates to show similar spine.

That's the danger for Dutton now. Further principled resignations.

...Already weakened by his historic failure in the April 1, Aston byelection, Dutton must now find a compliant yet credible replacement for Leeser.

Until Tuesday morning, no senior Liberal had put the Voice ahead of their own career, although backbenchers Bridget Archer (Tasmania) and Senator Andrew Bragg (NSW) had certainly put their own parliamentary advancement in jeopardy.

Archer lauded [Leeser's] "courage and integrity" while Bragg predicted it would improve the prospects of success in the spring referendum.

"I believe a 'yes' vote is now more likely because of Julian's conviction," he said.

Other Liberals have made their disappointment with Dutton known privately. Those in lower house metropolitan seats fear being "tealed" at the next election for having been on the wrong side of the Voice debate.

All eyes are now on the leading Liberal moderate, Simon Birmingham

[who] represents moderate South Australia where support for the Voice is expected to be high. The state Labor government recently legislated a local version of the proposed national Voice..."