The Government, with the conivance of the Opposition, is spending our money on television commercials to convince us of the necessity of holding a referendum to 'recognise' the 'first inhabitants' of this continent. What would happen in the future if advances in science showed that the current claimants were preceded by others is too nightmarish to consider.

In another example of diminishing democracy in Australia - beginning with Malcolm Fraser declaring the country to be 'multicultural' without consulting anyone, let alone the citizens of Australia - there is to be no funding for the case of not causing another division in society.

Do we really want to see more divisions in society brought about by self-agrandizing, dictatorial politicians unwilling to have a proper debate? Do we really think that meddling

with the Constitution the way they want to will make one iota of difference to ordinary aboriginal Australians? Or, are we just about to experience another divide-and-conquer operation?

I have to admit that I don't know much about
this issue. However, I've come across the following
links that explain quite clearly what Indigenous
Constitutional recognition means and why it is
important to go ahead with this recognition:

http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-indigenous-constitutional-recognition-means-31770

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/about-constitutional-recognition

Surely aborigionals exist without a referendum, or is it going to prove that they appeared from nowhere.
There is a big danger in referendums in AU, how many actually get up.
A referendum now would prove that we are a mob ostriges, to the rest of the world.

If we are going to recognize the first comers to what is now called Australia, that would be the Tasmanian Aboriginals, about 70000 years ago. They came via the Southern Indian route.

The 2nd. "Invasion" came down the Malay Peninsular from the Northern Indian Route about 40000 years ago.

Then the 3rd. "Invasion" came from Southern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Borneo, New Guinea about 20000 years ago.

The 4th. Invasion , that didn't have much impact came down from New Guinea about 12000 years ago. The first inhabitants got pushed & pushed until the ended up in Tasmania & got cut off from the Mainland with the same Global Warming that caused the Sea to rise & cut Australia off from New Guinea about 10000 years ago.

Then came the Europeans 255 years ago in a 5th "invasion."

With that I take it Australia has had a history if invasion for 40000 years.

Just who do we recognise? Do we have to recognise any individual "Race" or people? If we do, would that be "Racist"? It's putting one group of people ahead of another for a gain.

If there is some change to be made to the Constitution then some change of wording to recognize everybody in Australia, Past, Present & Future would suffice.

This all has to do with Political Correctness & you all know where I stand on that issue. Some Goody Two Shoes have nothing better to do with their time than find fault with everything. Then the City Aboriginals who would know one weed from another stirring up trouble so they can get more free stuff off whitey. That's the motivation behind it all.

Foxy,

They will come up with all sorts of reasons why recognition is ' important'. As an individual well out of the tangle of current political intrigue, I do not think it is in the least important; in fact I think that it would set a dangerous precedent and, most of all, it would be divisive and cause bad feelings against aboriginal Australians merely to give kudos to self-appointed leaders. I have nothing against people of aboriginal descent, many of whom work and play with the rest of us, and enjoy the good society that is Australia. They don't need to be to be patronised. Admittedly, some do not do so well, but no po-faced, politically correct vote-motivated changes to the Constitution will make any difference to their lot. We will never hear from the average black man or women; just the professionals who make a living out of racial discord, and cynical, self-serving white politicians.

Dear ttbn,

I haven't made up my mind about this issue
simply because as I said - I don't know
enough about it. Reading the links on the web
good arguments are being presented. However,
I don't know what the rest of the population
think and we've had problems with our
Referendums in the past - so this thing may not
even pass.

Anyway, I'll see what others have to say on this
issue. I hope quite a few will contribute to your
discussion. It would be interesting to read what
other posters think.