Rudd did the apologising, which was not accepted. People who have done nothing can not apologise to people who have had nothing done to them. Besides, the Voice has nothing to with apologies; it is about raw power and division. It is an insult to both aborigine and non-aborigine.

"The problems of Australian aboriginals are immense."

That is a lie, for all but a few of them, who have done nothing for themselves, despite all the very expensive help and opportunities.

The statistics are there because of the lack of self-help.

There were aborigines killed long ago, as were whites killed. The "massacres" are more lies invented by Marxist historians, who will do anything to sell books.

"Decades later the Indigenous community still waits for change."

Another insult to the 80% or more who have done something for themselves. It is typical of the arrogant, racist Left to keep people down and use them for their virtue-signalling self aggrandisement, and power. Bowden epitomises this class of people.

Is there an ethicist anywhere who isn't more interested in virtue signaling than ethics or justice?

It is so easy to make grand statements from a comfortable seat in an ivory tower, when the resultant damage of changes suggested will fall on the peasants below.

I don't see what the present generation of Australians has to apologise for. Colonisation brought modern medicine, communication, writing, modern justice and welfare. Today non-aborigines get less welfare and somehow manage to survive while staying out of jail. Aborigines control over half of Australia's land mass yet still need financial help. They hold up big resource projects while asking for more.

Non-aboriginal Australians face prejudice every day over their weight, skin colour, age and religion yet they still manage to cope. They overcome many disadvantages yet don't ask for special treatment. Notice how many Yes campaigners are distinctly middle class, perhaps it's a guilt thing. Yes voters may feel they have the moral high ground but their ideas have proved impractical. Despite billions of dollars thrown at the aboriginal industry problems remain. Aborigines and those claiming to be aboriginal should get over it and spend their existing money more wisely.

Good on you Peter.

Take heart, with regard to the usual band of smart ones.

As my erstwhile Premier, Joh, once said: you can take a horse for a drink, but you can't make it water.

Chek,
Do you actually know what Joh's last stroke of the pen was as Premier ?

Sorry but disagree. I believe more will be achieved by getting rid of unelected leaders. And allow elected Aboriginal Parliamentarians to advocate for their people.

One of the other things that must be done, is find out where all that money has gone!
Alan B.

Voting "no" keeps the situation as it is and results in more circle games achieving zilch. It also means the Angry stay Angry and probably get more Angry.
A "yes" vote win may result in an improvement which can only be positive. Still a gamble because we don`t yet know how things may be achieved. It may also result in just more bureaucracy and money wasted. ie zilch yet again.
I think the risk is worth taking although much work and effort by all sides will be required.

Yes. A lot of goodwill is needed for that new start.

Unfortunately, the Two Party Preferred system,now afflicted with winner-take-all no matter what, militates against any goodwill or good sense for our heirs.

Yes. A lot of goodwill is needed for that new start.
Chek,
We have provided that & all the indigenous need now is the will to rid themselves of the activists !

The reason is to apologise for the considerable pain and conflict that we white Australians have inflicted on aboriginal people,

Peter Bowden must have been hiding under a rock if he missed Rudd's & Keatinge's apologies & the Billions spent on anything & everything Indigenous in Australia over the several generations.
The tokenism alone is worth several fortunes.
The outcome of the referendum appears a certain NO & not because of "toxic scare campaigns" but because of people who know better than all our academic & social experts & activists combined.
Now our Labor govt should put the NIAA on the spot & make them do what they're supposed to be doing, being a Voice to Parliament !

A big, fat decisive fat NO.

I predicted this outcome and take no pleasure in being vindicated. There was no bipartisan support and that guaranteed it didn't get up!
Alan B.

Hope it is the only body blow that Dutton succeeded in landing at Albo before the 2025 elections.

My burning question is now what will be done about the NIAA ! I think no matter which party will be in power, they'll have to make the NIAA responsible & if they fail to perform the role of a Voice, disband them asap.
So much more better could be done instead of continuing a proven failure.