Some conservatives are only willing to listen to Indigenous voices when they match their pre-existing views
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney are off to the Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land, where the PM is tomorrow expected to outline details of Labors referendum plans for a voice to parliament. The intention of the trip, as Albanese tweeted this morning, is to advance talks between First Nations peoples and the government on a voice to parliament an important step in what is a complex, compromise-heavy process that will obviously never please everyone entirely. But there is already trouble brewing in the Coalition ranks, threatening the chance of a bipartisan approach to the issue. As Nine reports, three senior Liberals are expressing grave concerns about the voice, prompted by conservative NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Prices fiery maiden speech this week. Liberal MPs Tony Pasin, Phillip Thompson and Claire Chandler have come out publicly against the voice, saying there isnt enough detail, and that they stand with Price. As Marcia Langton, a co-chair of the voice design group, points out, theres more than 500 pages of detail already available. Do Pasin, Thompson and Chandler really care about the perspectives of Indigenous Australians, or only those who align with their conservative views?
Its long been clear that Price, a Sky News darling who identifies as an empowered Warlpiri Celtic Australian woman, is going to play an interesting role in the national debate, using her platform to push back against what she sees as progressive symbolism. She came out hard against Greens senator Lidia Thorpe during last months flag debate, calling for Thorpe to be removed from parliament if she wasnt willing to show respect to the Australian flag. In Wednesdays maiden speech, Price railed against the voice, ripping into the PM for what she called a virtuous act of symbolic gesture a point that quietly ignores the fact that calls for an Indigenous voice to parliament originated with the hundreds of Indigenous leaders who came together to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Yesterday, she came to the defence of One Nation senator Pauline Hanson, after Hanson stormed out of the Senate in protest of the acknowledgement of country. I understand Paulines frustrations, Price told 2GBs Ben Fordham, arguing that the acknowledgement was being overdone, another symbolic gesture in place of real action.
Price is, of course, entitled to her views on the voice, on flags and on Hansons Senate walkout. (Although it does seem rather a stretch to suggest that Hanson who exited the chamber when the Senate president paid respect to elders past and present, shouting No, I wont, and never will! only stormed out because she cares too much about seeing real progress for Indigenous Australians.) Its worth noting that the maiden speeches from Indigenous MPs Marion Scrymgour and Jana Stewart in support of the voice did not receive the same coverage, as Crikeys Cam Wilson notes. The voice to parliament is a complex matter, and there is no model that is going to receive the full approval of the approximately 1 million people who identify as Indigenous Australians. But there is something deeply disingenuous about the way in which these white conservative MPs are opposing the voice by citing one or two Indigenous peoples views, when its pretty clear they were planning to oppose it anyway. Price has become a popular figure in conservative circles because she takes positions that are becoming untenable for white Australians, railing against the false narratives of racism. Conservatives are then able to stand with Price as a shield against any allegations that they dont care about Indigenous issues.
Price speaks passionately about wanting real solutions to Indigenous issues, and she clearly cares deeply about them. But the same cannot be said of the white conservatives who piggyback off her views. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has started spouting the empty symbolism line; apparently he didnt want to attend the apology to the Stolen Generations because the problems were not resolved , though he now acknowledges that was a mistake. While Dutton hasnt yet come out with a firm position against the voice, he seems poised to do so, speaking at the opening of parliament on Tuesday about the need for practical changes. But how much do these people care about taking practical steps outside of the times theyre using it to argue against symbolic acts?
At the end of the day, Price is right. Australia will need to undertake much more than symbolic gestures if we are ever to close the gap, which we are currently failing desperately at. Burney intends to take concrete actions, and having an Indigenous voice to parliament will surely help. (Thorpe, who Price often disagrees with, has some concrete ideasof her own.) Conservatives railing against a voice on the basis that we need real solutions really ought to stick by thatthe next time a chance arises to vote for a real measure to close the gap. Otherwise, their opposition will be nothing but to use Prices words pointless virtue-signalling.
Listen to The Politics Podcast, with Rachel Withers
Australians have got zero tolerance for this.
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King vows to overhaul the Building Better Regions fund, after a scathing auditor-general report found Nationals-held electorates received $100 million more than they would have if distributed on merit.
If Dutton were ordered to pay the full amount of Bazzis costs as assessed, then the practical outcome would therefore be a windfall gain for Bazzi.
Lawyers for Peter Dutton, who sued refugee activist Shane Bazzi for defamation and lost, argue he should not be forced to pay Bazzis $248,000 in costs because Bazzi crowdfunded much of his defence.
After five years of inaction, the Albanese government has made implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart a key item of business. Anthony Albanese has described it as a hand held out to the country. But there are still questions over whether a referendum will succeed. Patrick Dodson is telling colleagues they should put it up regardless if the vote is lost, the country will have to live with it.
The unprecedented cost (per megawatt-hour) that average wholesale electricity prices reached in the June quarter more than triple the previous quarter.
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy has urged the government to immediately begin budget repair to contain the debt, warning of future crises ahead. Did someone say Stage Three tax cuts?
View post:
