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Keywords: Referendum

  • AUSTRALIA

    Recognition of Aboriginal rights: A contemporary Australian perspective

    • Frank Brennan
    • 05 June 2023
    19 Comments

    The wording of the proposed change to the Australian Constitution to enshrine a First Nations Voice might not be perfect. But whatever the imperfections and the risk of future complications, it is high time that Australia’s First Peoples were recognised in the Constitution in a manner sought and approved by a broad cross-section of Indigenous leaders.

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  • MEDIA

    Thanks to Stan Grant, public intellectual

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 31 May 2023
    19 Comments

    The departure of Stan Grant from his role at the ABC following racial abuse triggers collective dismay and brings to light the deeply rooted issue of racism in Australia. His exit from public life is a sobering reminder of the societal toll of bigotry, and underscores the urgent need to safeguard our public intellectuals. 

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  • AUSTRALIA

    What is the right way of hearing hurt and of having hard conversations?

    • Michael McVeigh
    • 29 May 2023
    1 Comment

    Amid the tumult at North Melbourne Football Club, President Dr. Sonja Hood poses a potent question on reconciliation and institutional hurt. As the Indigenous Voice referendum looms, her query underscores a national quest for trust-building and healing, challenging us to consider the hard conversations that could change the narrative.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Voices beyond Yes and No

    • Celeste Liddle
    • 10 May 2023
    17 Comments

    Later this year, Australians will vote on a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but many Indigenous Australians remain undecided, reflecting the complexities of the issue. The debate over the Voice to Parliament extends beyond the referendum question to encompass broader concerns about the constitution, treaties, and achieving true equality.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    ‘A spiritual notion’: The Voice and the yearnings of our hearts

    • Michael McVeigh
    • 05 May 2023
    1 Comment

    Recent books Statements from the Soul and An Indigenous Voice to Parliament explore different perspectives on the Uluru Statement, including the relationship between the land and Indigenous people and the legal impact of the proposed constitutional change, while demonstrating the need to appeal to hearts and minds in rallying support for an Indigenous Voice.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Frank Brennan and an Indigenous Voice to Parliament

    • John Warhurst
    • 04 May 2023
    20 Comments

    Frank Brennan's book An Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Considering a constitutional bridge is an urgent contribution to this important national debate around the shaping of the Voice and the referendum question. It is a book concerned with what’s likely to be successful rather than a manual on how to vote. 

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Spare the child

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 04 May 2023
    1 Comment

    When is a child fully responsible for their actions? The State Attorneys General have met to seek agreement on raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12, provoking questions around whether children can be held fully accountable for their actions at such a young age, and whether the criminal justice system needs to focus on rehabilitation over punishment.

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Hope springs

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 10 April 2023

    In a secular society the fast that preceded Easter has disappeared, but Easter remains a time of celebration. Celebrations recognise happy times and happy events, often marking the end of hard times. The message of Easter remains: that hope can spring up and new life can grow in apparently barren places.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Dutton's gamble against the Voice

    • James Massola
    • 05 April 2023
    17 Comments

    Peter Dutton confirmed the Liberal party will oppose to the Indigenous Voice to parliament, putting him at odds with a new prime minister, Indigenous leaders, and community sentiment. With the Aston byelection defeat, concerns have arisen over the party's direction and the narrowing path back to the Lodge. 

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  • AUSTRALIA

    The Referendum: Appealing to the heart and mind

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 30 March 2023
    4 Comments

    Frank Brennan’s book An Indigenous Voice to Parliament is important in pointing out the difficulties facing the Referendum, the conditions to be met if it is to be passed, and in implicitly judging the current state of play.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Mabo, Keating and a Voice

    • Kevin Keeffe
    • 16 March 2023
    10 Comments

    Despite the lack of formal consultation with Indigenous peoples at the time, Paul Keating invested significant political capital in designing the Native Title Act and establishing a comprehensive social justice package. As the debate on the Voice intensifies, Indigenous Australians should be afforded the right to offer their Voice and be heard on issues as fundamental as native title.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Culture wars are for tin soldiers

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 02 February 2023
    6 Comments

    Any discussion of the ethics of culture war should begin with the basic reality of human communication: to flourish, human beings rely on cooperation with other people. Speaking abusively about others weakens the necessary trust that lies at the foundation of a well-functioning society and inhibits the conversation about values necessary in a humane society.

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