Australia torn apart? What about the white Australia policy? It undermined the democratic foundation of equality and was given legality by the race provisions of the constitution. The Voice will rely upon the same provisions. I don't see how debasing a foundation of democracy should ever be seen as necessary for solving a problem, no matter how well intentioned. In its day the Immigration Restriction Act was looked upon as an appropriate means of preserving economic and social conditions for Australian citizens. Do we think that today? Do we look back and think that Australia was saved from being torn apart by degrading a democratic foundation?

Before the referendum is held, all that is being asked will be spelt out in minute detail.
Alan B,
Where & when was that said ?

There is nothing "spurious" about voting NO, in what still purports to be a democracy, to a race-based abomination that would give more say to the 3% claiming to be blackfellas than the other 97% gets.

As for "all that is being asked will be spelt out in minute detail" before the referendum - there is no indication that will happen; in fact Albanese is bleating, begging and bullying us to vote yes, and he will tell us what will happen afterwards!

But, he doesn't know what's going to happen himself. Mayo and Reid have told us, in detail, what will happen: treaties, reparations and a shift in power from the majority to the minority. Either they have pulled the wool over the PM's eyes, or he is lying.

And the NO campaign has already given reasons to vote NO, unlike the proponents of this racist BS. In fact, Mayo and Reid have also amply provided the reason to vote NO, as the fall off in support for a yes vote indicates.

The YES campaigners are crapping in their own nest.

TTBN hasn't got half the fun we could have if Albanese realises that the referendum is going to be overwhelmed and tries to postpone or drop the vote altogether. If you read the mechanism act it is full of the idea that the government can decide not to proceed with a referendum. However Section 128 of the Constitution provides that not less than two or more than six months after the passage of the bill through parliament, it SHALL be submitted to the electors in each State or Territory. This has happened several times in the past and no-one has objected. However on this occasion the NO group could approach the High Court for a writ of Mandamus ordering the Governor General to issue a writ for a referendum to be held during the prescribed time window notwithstanding advice from the government to the contrary. What Fun!

plerdsus

Interesting.

I just came back to this discussion to suggest that the people who want this Voice nonsense: those who think it's a good idea, are the ones who have to convince everyone to vote YES; not the other way around. As with any transaction, an offer is made, with reasons why it should be accepted. But the offer can be refused with a simple NO - no reasons necessary, particularly in this case when the proposal flies in the face of democracy, equality and egalitarianism, as the Voice does.

When the enemies of freedom come, they cannot devour an entire people by direct power. They must first divide before they can conquer. Division can be created in two ways: hatred and fear, created with identity politics: differentiation instead of similarity, putting people against one another.

Once stripped of unity, people are easier to manipulate.

Albanese and Labor could lay to rest the spurious attacks from the 'NO' campaign that there needs to be details laid out of how The Voice would function. Providing a legislative model, which would give skin and bones to the referendum would seem to be a reasonable counter to many of the lies presently being peddled by the No campaign. Of course no matter what model is presented, the racist Dutton and his mob from the Noalition and others will find reasons to oppose it outright.

Publishing a legislative model before a referendum would be highly unusual. Remembering the Australian Constitution was approved by an act of the British Parliament and Queen Victoria in 1900. Only small numbers of Australians voted to approve an Australian Constitution between 1898 and 1900, voting was not compulsory. In the majority of referendums held in the states the vote was restricted to white males only.