The “yes” vote in Australia

It’s a big issue, the indigenous population has not integrated despite a lot of reforms and this new initiative is not going to make any difference.
Alice Springs has almost become a no go area because crime levels are so high.

When I’ve visited Australia I’ve noticed that there are small indigenous population areas that look neglected and strewn with discarded items but the owners seem content to live that way and don’t welcome visitors.
When in Alice Springs I was surprised at how many of the indigenous population spend much of the day sitting on the grass in groups drinking.
I know I’ve only visited family and as a tourist for a few weeks at a time over the years but that’s my general observation of some areas.

So what is wrong with giving them a voice in the Australian parliament?

Being under-represented or not represented may have contributed to the problems?

I cannot find an answer to my query: 24 votes out of how many, I presume in their parliament?

eazybee

I cannot find an answer to my query: 24 votes out of how many, I presume in their parliament?

Apparently there is the intention of having 24 “voices” to represent the indigenous population.

The big problem as far as I can see is that the colonisers - just as they have done in other countries have crowded the indigenous people out of their own country to the edges and taken away their right of representation.

How these voices are going to operate I’m not clear.

Please let’s not descend into the idea that colonisers are the problem. Those who have moved to Australia have built the country into what it is now, which is successful and rich.
I’m wondering why the indigenous population are apparently, according to what is written here because I have no other knowledge, living in what sounds like squalor and not working? Is this actually the case? I don’t know but I think we should not think those who have made the country into what it now is, are somehow in the wrong. I know the indigenous population were greatly disadvantaged two hundred or so years ago, but I don’t think they are today.
I admit to having a limited knowledge of Australia.

Katie59

It’s a big issue, the indigenous population has not integrated despite a lot of reforms and this new initiative is not going to make any difference.
Alice Springs has almost become a no go area because crime levels are so high.

This sentence really made me jump.

The INDIGENOUS population has NOT INTEGRATED.

maddyone- same for the Navahos and other indigenous tribes in the USA. They have lost all their values and way of life, their dignitiy, and their land. Why do you think alcoholism, drugs, depression, poverty and unemployment, etc, are rife?

Are these 24 people to be elected or selected, and how?
Difficult to find any factual information, just people saying what a wonderful idea it is.

Maybe the indigenous people were happy with their own country as it was, and didn't aspire to be rich in monetary terms but poor in quality time.

Having described some of the groups I have witnessed, there are of course those who still live the life of their elders who had so much knowledge of their land. Maybe integration would not be that important to them.

Interestingly in New Zealand, the % of indigenous population compared to colonisers is much higher, and there does not appear to be the same sort of problems - perhaps because they have a greater voice in things?

eazybee

Are these 24 people to be elected or selected, and how?
Difficult to find any factual information, just people saying what a wonderful idea it is.

I am hoping that an Australian poster will fill us in. Although I will have a look meanwhile.

I am not very knowledgeable but I feel very sorry for the world’s indigenous populations. For thousand of years they lived their lives without commercialization. They lived as one with nature.
In Australia they were herded onto reservations, children were taken from families, their own cultural practices were denied, so that they were able to ‘profit’ from the new culture.

I hope the Aboriginal people have the right to vote in parliament.

I was shocked to see ‘the so called intelligent race’ climbing all over Ayer’s Rock, a total disregard to notices explaining that it was a religious site for some.

Here are some copy and pasted information

This is the question

On referendum day, Australian adults will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a single question: “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

“A change supported by more than 80 per cent of Indigenous Australians: Constitutional Recognition through a Voice. A way for all of us to recognise Indigenous Australians and their history in our Constitution and a form of recognition that will importantly make a positive difference to their lives and their futures.”

“Voting Yes means: Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia. Celebrating and sharing 65,000 years of history. Sending a powerful message to the world about Australia's unity.”

“The Uluru Statement from the Heart (the Statement) is an invitation from a group of First Nations people to non-Indigenous Australians. Shared in 2017, the Statement calls for substantive reform to help realise Indigenous rights, through the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a Makarrata Commission”.

Native Australians have had education, health care and benefits for decades, yet progress has been very slow, of course they should have a say in parliament. If the aim is integration with the other 97% ? of Australians, maybe in a generation.

No one I know is voting Yes. The pure blood First Nations people will vote no because it is not their people who will benefit, sadly. The loud self styled Aborigines are not representative of those who live in the traditional way but they ar3 the ones who will make the decisions. As per usual.

It doesn’t seem to be anything to do with integration.

Normally the immigrants are expected to integrate with the indigenous - not the other way around!

nanna8

No one I know is voting Yes. The pure blood First Nations people will vote no because it is not their people who will benefit, sadly. The loud self styled Aborigines are not representative of those who live in the traditional way but they ar3 the ones who will make the decisions. As per usual.

80% of aborigines agree with it according to the statement above.

Do you know any aborigines nanna8?

nanna8

No one I know is voting Yes. The pure blood First Nations people will vote no because it is not their people who will benefit, sadly. The loud self styled Aborigines are not representative of those who live in the traditional way but they ar3 the ones who will make the decisions. As per usual.

My Australian son-in-law, my DD, an Australian citizen and their two older children eligible to vote will all be voting ‘no’.

Calendargirl

nanna8

No one I know is voting Yes. The pure blood First Nations people will vote no because it is not their people who will benefit, sadly. The loud self styled Aborigines are not representative of those who live in the traditional way but they ar3 the ones who will make the decisions. As per usual.

My Australian son-in-law, my DD, an Australian citizen and their two older children eligible to vote will all be voting ‘no’.

Do you know why?

She spoke about it to me recently, but must confess I didn’t really know to what she was referring. I shall ask her in more detail when next we speak.

I assume as with us and Brexit for instance, they are voting for what they feel is best for their future.

This was in reply to Whitewavemark.

Whitewavemark2

It doesn’t seem to be anything to do with integration.

Normally the immigrants are expected to integrate with the indigenous - not the other way around!

Agreed!

I can’t find any explanation as to why you should vote no.

I do hope it isn’t a racial thing.