Aborigines

It is likely that the 2013 federal election will be accompanied by three referendum questions. The last 110 years have not been very successful in terms of changing the Constitution; only eight of 44 referendum questions have received the required double majority.

No special mention required

One likely question concerns local government - the third attempt! Referendums in 1974 and 1988, on whether local government should be recognised in the Constitution, were soundly defeated.

The third attempt, planned to allow the Commonwealth to directly fund local government, deserves to be passed. It has bipartisan support, and unless state governments fight to retain their power over the local sector, it may be successful.

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  • marley says:

    04:42pm | 18/11/11

    Oh gawd no - nothing ever gets done in Switzerland.  We’ve got three times their population - can you imagine how much less would get done here than there?  I’d rather have a few errors than stagnation. Read more »

  • Sean says:

    04:00pm | 18/11/11

    Shame there’s no referendum to add to the Constitution the one thing it genuinely needs: a bill of rights. While we’re at it, let’s have a referendum to change the Australian legislative system so it resembles the Swiss one. That way, everything the govt does can (if challenged by any… Read more »

 

A brief glance at Australia’s history shows that changing our constitution is never easy. Only eight of 44 referendums held since Federation have been successful.

Indigenous performers open Parliament. Picture: Ray Strange

But I am optimistic that we can achieve nation-wide consensus on the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

Constitutional recognition of Indigenous people will be a significant step towards building an Australia based on strong relationships and mutual respect.

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  • Billigflug Vergleich Testsieger says:

    09:35pm | 31/03/12

    Economy Offence,majority while significant pattern activity too show institute night coal run cat since mind directly production acquire release drawing state attack mouth head hair fear necessarily upon regulation character explain complete too photograph worker wind committee necessarily transport regulation understanding student channel constant man cabinet regard south law discuss… Read more »

  • A. Penrith says:

    01:05pm | 25/11/10

    there is a vast difference between Aboriginal and Australian, there in lies the issue, imposing a foreign culture upon Aboriginal Australians is genocide. The inability to live our own way of life and continually be subject of overhaul and scrutiny and social engineering is why young Aboriginal Australians dont perceive… Read more »

 

When the Indigenous All Stars run on to Skilled Park tomorrow night it won’t be just another game of football.

Champion team: the NRL Indigenous All Stars.

The game has been sold out for months and has been a dream of Indigenous league players and Indigenous people for decades.

For the indigenous players it’s about more than just rugby league – it’s a chance to represent and pay tribute to their communities and people. The game is a celebration of indigenous culture and has great symbolism, but equally important will be the profound effect it has on Indigenous youth.

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  • Rai says:

    05:32am | 23/12/10

    Are we all the same or not? If the liberal left thinks Aboriginals are inferior to such an extent they need to be provided everything because they couldn’t possibly achieve it on their own, perhaps they should be leveling the finger and shrieking ‘racist’ at each other. Its a despicable… Read more »

  • Tony G says:

    07:42am | 15/02/10

    If your going to hold an Indigenous match (which in this country means Aboriginal or TSI ONLY) then the players should ALL BE JUST THAT, which clearly they are NOT. Pacific islanders are NOT Indigenous and neither are red haired or Chinese named persons. The idea was a great thing… Read more »

 

Around this time of year, Aborigines are conducting ceremonial business in central Australia, including circumcision initiation rites.

News Ltd reported on Monday that three teenagers had turned up at the Tennant Creek hospital, 500km north of Alice Springs, bleeding badly from circumcision procedures that had gone wrong.

They had been circumcised in a makeshift bush camp just out of town. The boys spent three nights in hospital. It can be revealed here that a fourth teenager presented at Tennant Creek hospital on Sunday night, also with lacerations.

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  • Sam says:

    02:44pm | 16/11/11

    The story’s from news ltd, with there history I dout anything in this story is true, getting facts from them is like asking the church about evolution, I expect more than recycled dribble from gossip papers Read more »

  • LC says:

    05:11pm | 05/01/11

    @ Lisa again: “Many eminently qualified Australian medicos are campaigning to have circumcision brought back into fashion within Australia.” Really? http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/09/2113665.htm Really? Read more »

 

THE best thing about the mooted ban on climbing Uluru is that it gives slightly overweight, middle-aged white people who enjoy the occasional cigarette the perfect vehicle to forgo taxing exercise on the pretence of respect for indigenous heritage.

The worst thing about it is that it seems to be a bit of pre-ordained, politically correct posturing that will add to the nation’s ever-expanding collection of hollow symbolic gestures that do nothing to increase white Australia’s respect for, or understanding of, our Aboriginal history, and may actually work against it.

I have never climbed the rock and probably wouldn’t _ not just because I’m kind of lazy and would rather do the bus tour, sit down in front of the rock for a while, and get back for beers at sunset at the Yulara resort _ but also because it clearly distresses some Aboriginal people. It just seems kind of rude.

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  • Phil says:

    09:21am | 14/07/09

    Just returned from Uluru. Its a moot point to have this argument in this day and age because the climb is never open!!! The bigger issue is Australia has become a “nanny state” driven by our legal system. We were told by one of the local tour guides that the… Read more »

  • Rossini says:

    06:51pm | 13/07/09

    If you “close” the rock why not close Sydney Harbour? People piss it as well! So what’s the difference? Read more »

 

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