THE “yes” and “no” cases for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum have been published on the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) website.<\/p>\n
Electoral commissioner Tom Rogers said last week that the cases that appeared today (Tuesday, July 18) in separate documents would be exactly as they had been received by yesterday’s deadline.<\/p>\n
“Whatever we have received will be published the very next day, in order to provide visibility to voters.<\/p>\n
“Our role here is as a post-box only and this impending raw publication of each authorised case is the first aspect of our independent delivery role.”<\/p>\n
Indigenous leader Noel Pearson campaigned for a ‘yes’ vote in Launceston on Friday last week with Liberal MP Bridget Archer.<\/p>\n
\u200bMr Rogers said the AEC would then get to work completing the “yes” and “no” case pamphlets for printing and create translated versions.<\/p>\n
“Producing alternative versions of each case is a particularly methodical, careful body of work especially noting that some English terms do not have direct translations,” he said.<\/p>\n
The preparation of each case for the pamphlet is being completed by members of parliament.<\/p>\n
Opposition Indigenous spokeswoman Jacinta Price said no single person would be responsible for writing the ‘no’ case.<\/p>\n
“This is a process that takes into account the views of many people who oppose Labor’s voice proposal,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The committee will take these into consideration and ultimately produce a document that we believe outlines the strongest cases against it.”<\/p>\n
A referendum is expected to be held between October and December.<\/p>\n
“Yes” case<\/strong><\/p>\n Vote Yes for a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all Australians.<\/p>\n Vote Yes for unity, hope and to make a positive difference.<\/p>\n Voting YES is about:<\/p>\n Recognition<\/p>\n \u25a0 Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution and paying respect to 65,000 years of culture and tradition. \u25a0 Listening to advice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about matters that affect their lives, so governments make better decisions. \u25a0 Making practical progress in Indigenous health, education, employment and housing, so people have a better life.<\/p>\n It’s a change only you can make happen.<\/p>\n Vote Yes to an idea that comes directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves: Constitutional Recognition through a Voice.<\/p>\n What is the Voice:<\/p>\n The Voice will be a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who will give advice to the Parliament and Government on issues that affect their community.<\/p>\n It will include Indigenous Australians from every state and territory, the Torres Strait Islands and representatives from the regions and remote communities.<\/p>\n Members of the Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their loca\u00a0 area and serve for a fixed period.<\/p>\n Why we need it:<\/p>\n There are big challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:<\/p>\n \u25a0 A life expectancy 8 years shorter than non-Indigenous Australians.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Worse rates of disease and infant mortality.\\<\/p>\n \u25a0 A suicide rate twice as high.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Fewer opportunities for education and training<\/p>\n Clearly, the current approach isn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n To close these gaps, find solutions and plan for the future we need to listen to advice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about issues affecting their lives and communities.<\/p>\n How the Voice will work:<\/p>\n The Voice is about advice.<\/p>\n When governments listen to people about issues that affect them, they:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Make better decisions.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Get better results.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Deliver better value for money.<\/p>\n The Voice will give advice on key issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, from better infant health to improving services in remote areas.<\/p>\n Parliament and Government will still be responsible for all laws, programs and funding.<\/p>\n Patrick Dodson, Senator for Western Australia, Yawuru Elder: “When people on the ground are listened to and engaged, better laws and policies are made. Advice from the Voice will make our decisions and directions more informed and more successful. Recognition in the Constitution will help heal our nation.”<\/p>\n THE VOICE: KEY FACTS<\/p>\n \u25a0 Idea comes from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Recognises First Peoples in our Constitution.<\/p>\n \u25a0 A committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Gives people a say on issues affecting them.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Listening will mean better results \u2013 and better value for money.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Representatives from all states and territories, the Torres Strait Islands and remote communities.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Will include young people and a balance of men and women.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Parliament and Government still responsible for laws, programs and funding.<\/p>\n KEEP READING FOR 8 MORE REASONS TO VOTE YES.<\/p>\n 1. This idea came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n Voting Yes means:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Supporting an aspiration put forward by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over \u25a0 Accepting a proposal backed by over 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n The call for a Voice did not come from politicians.<\/p>\n In 2017, after many years of work and countless conversations in every part of the country, nearly 250<\/p>\n Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and elders endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart.<\/p>\n Calling for recognition in the Constitution through a Voice.<\/p>\n Asking us to help make practical change in their lives and create better opportunities for their children.<\/p>\n Australians from all walks of life, all faiths and cultures, and all sides of politics have given their support to this proposal.<\/p>\n Now we can make it a reality.<\/p>\n Voting Yes is an act of unity that will bring Australians together.<\/p>\n 2. Constitutional recognition for concrete results.<\/p>\n Constitutional recognition is a powerful statement that will drive practical change.<\/p>\n Voting Yes means:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Celebrating and sharing 65,000 years of history.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Sending a powerful message to the world about Australia\u2019s unity.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Making a practical difference for the future.<\/p>\n Generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have enriched our nation with their<\/p>\n culture and creativity, their knowledge of the land and waters, and their contribution to Australian life.<\/p>\n Our ancient continent is home to the world\u2019s oldest living cultures. Recognising this in our<\/p>\n Constitution is an inspiring way to celebrate our shared history.<\/p>\n Voting Yes is an act of reconciliation that will deliver real results.<\/p>\n The form of recognition Indigenous Australians are asking us to support is a Voice. A vehicle for Johnathan Thurston, NRL champion and coach, Gunggari man: \u201cOur young people deserve the chance to be their best. I work closely with schoolkids in the Yarrabah community in Queensland. I’ve seen the obstacles they face. Nobody understands that better than their local community. Giving them a say will mean more of our kids reach their potential. That’s what the Voice is about.”<\/p>\n 3. Ensure people have a better life.<\/p>\n The Voice is a vehicle to deliver real improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Life expectancy.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Infant mortality and health.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Education and employment.<\/p>\n For a long time, governments with good intentions have spent billions trying to deal with these issues.<\/p>\n But they haven\u2019t achieved lasting improvement because they haven\u2019t listened to people on the ground.<\/p>\n The current approach is broken and the Voice is our best chance to fix it.<\/p>\n No-one thinks the Voice will instantly solve everything – but we will finally have the right approach<\/p>\n in place.<\/p>\n Here are three examples where listening to Indigenous people has delivered better outcomes.<\/p>\n IMAGINE THE PROGRESS AUSTRALIA COULD MAKE WITH A VOICE.<\/p>\n Listening Works: Better Health Services<\/p>\n Community-controlled Aboriginal Medical Services employ local Indigenous people.<\/p>\n They run clinics and visit remote areas, providing essential services like child immunisation.<\/p>\n In South East Queensland, the local Aboriginal Medical Service and the community worked together to hugely increase the number of annual health checks, from 550 to over 20,000 over 10 years.<\/p>\n Listening Works: Better Results in Education<\/p>\n Families and community leaders have been involved in every step of the new Dhupuma Barker school\u00a0in Arnhem Land, from lesson-planning to uniforms and lunches.<\/p>\n Genuine partnership has driven strong school attendance rates and better results. The \u2018DhupumaFirebirds\u2019 Robotics team recently competed in the VEX International Championships in Texas, the Principal Phillip Heath says: “Listening to the community is a game-changer in regional and remote education.”<\/p>\n Listening Works: Indigenous Rangers<\/p>\n There are nearly 2,000 Indigenous Rangers working on country.<\/p>\n Rangers care for our environment by working to prevent bushfires, controlling feral pests and<\/p>\n improving the health of our rivers.<\/p>\n Listening to Indigenous Rangers means sharing in 65,000 years of knowledge and connection to our<\/p>\n land and waters.<\/p>\n Vote Yes for better results around Australia.<\/p>\n Vote Yes to help close the gap.<\/p>\n 4. Bring our country together.<\/p>\n Voting Yes means:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Becoming reconciled with our past and moving to a better future.<\/p>\n \u25a0 A change only you can make happen.<\/p>\n Australia has come a long way since our Constitution came into effect in 1901.<\/p>\n We now rightly celebrate Indigenous Australians and their contributions to our country.<\/p>\n At the 1967 referendum, 90% of Australians voted Yes to changing the Constitution, so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would be counted in the population in the same way as everyone else.<\/p>\n It was a unifying step forward.<\/p>\n Together we have a chance to take the next step – recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a Voice.<\/p>\n Other nations with similar histories, like Canada and New Zealand, formally recognised their own First Peoples decades ago.<\/p>\n Experience shows there is nothing to fear – and so much to gain.<\/p>\n Rachel Perkins, Filmmaker from Alice Springs, Arrernte\/Kalkadoon woman: \u201cOur people have spent decades campaigning for the opportunity of a better life. We\u2019ve never been more determined or more united. The Voice is our best shot, let\u2019s take it.<\/p>\n 5. Save money.<\/p>\n When governments listen to people, they get better outcomes and use funding more effectively.<\/p>\n Aunty Pat Anderson AO, Co-Chair Uluru Dialogues, Alyawarre woman:<\/p>\n “When you involve people, you make better decisions and the money you spend goes where<\/p>\n it’s needed most: to the people on the ground.”<\/p>\n Governments from both sides have invested billions in programs that haven’t fixed problems or reached communities.<\/p>\n A Voice will help us listen to locals and save money.\\<\/p>\n We’re all better off when governments don’t waste taxpayer money on things that aren’t working.<\/p>\n 6. The time is now.<\/p>\n The idea of a Voice has been decades in the making. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander<\/p>\n people have put in a great deal of hard work and goodwill.<\/p>\n Voting No means nothing will change. It means accepting we can\u2019t do better.<\/p>\n Don’t risk more of the same:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Worse life expectancy.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Worse results in education and employment.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Worse outcomes in health.<\/p>\n Vote Yes to break this cycle and unite our nation.<\/p>\n Eddie Betts, Adelaide and Carlton AFL legend, Gubrun, Wirangu\/Kokatha man: \u201cI know the Voice won\u2019t fix everything overnight but I feel like it’s the opening of a pathway to make sure we are included and respected in decision-making on issues that impact us.\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Practical advice that works.<\/p>\n The Voice will advise on practical steps to improve Indigenous health, education, employment and housing.<\/p>\n Putting the Voice in the Constitution gives it stability and independence, now and into the future.<\/p>\n This means the Voice can give frank advice, without getting caught up in short-term politics.<\/p>\n We can\u2019t solve all the challenges Indigenous Australians face overnight. We need action now, as well as planning for the long term.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why we need a Voice that can\u2019t be abolished with the stroke of a pen.<\/p>\n Legal experts have made it clear that the Voice will not have the power to prevent, delay or veto laws\u00a0or decisions. The Voice is about advice.<\/p>\n 8. Making government work better.<\/p>\n Voting Yes means:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Government getting better advice and delivering better outcomes.<\/p>\n \u25a0 An addition to the Constitution backed by the experts.<\/p>\n Senior lawyers and former High Court Judges have been part of this process.<\/p>\n What the Legal Experts Say:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Constitutionally and legally sound.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Will enhance our system of government.<\/p>\n \u25a0 No veto power \u2013 Parliament and Government have final sign-off.<\/p>\n Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia 2008-2017 and Geoffrey Lindell, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Adelaide: \u201cThe Voice is a big idea but not a complicated one. It is low risk for a high return\u2026The Voice will provide a practical opportunity for First Peoples to give informed and coherent and reliable advice to the Parliament and the Government.\u201d- Joint Opinion Piece, Australian Financial Review, 4\/2\/2023.<\/p>\n Now it\u2019s up to us.<\/p>\n Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE, former tennis world number one, Wiradjuri woman: “Voting Yes is a chance for all Australians to celebrate the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made to our country and to help the next generation chase their dreams. Let’s grab this moment with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have given us a once-in-a-generation chance.<\/p>\n We can vote Yes to be part of a great unifying moment that will bring about a better future.<\/p>\n We can vote Yes to:<\/p>\n \u25a0 Do the right thing by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Give people a say on issues that affect them.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Make a practical difference that improves lives.<\/p>\n Let’s vote Yes for recognition, listening and better results.<\/p>\n Let’s vote Yes to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live better lives with more\\<\/p>\n opportunities for their children.<\/p>\n In a spirit of unity, let\u2019s vote Yes together.<\/p>\n “No” case<\/strong><\/p>\n REASONS TO VOTE NO \u2013 A SUMMARY<\/p>\n This Referendum is not simply about \u201crecognition\u201d. This Voice proposal goes much further.<\/p>\n If passed, it would represent the biggest change to our Constitution in our history.<\/p>\n It is legally risky, with unknown consequences. It would be divisive and permanent.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t know, vote no.<\/p>\n RISKY<\/p>\n We all want to help Indigenous Australians in disadvantaged communities. However, this Voice is not the answer and presents a real risk to our system of government.<\/p>\n This Voice specifically covers all areas of \u201cExecutive Government\u201d. This means no issue is beyond its reach.<\/p>\n The High Court would ultimately determine its powers, not the Parliament.<\/p>\n It risks legal challenges, delays and dysfunctional government.<\/p>\n UNKNOWN<\/p>\n No details have been provided on how members of the Voice would be chosen or how it would operate. Australians are being asked to vote first before these details are worked out.<\/p>\n Australians should have details before the vote, not after.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know how it will work, we don\u2019t know who will be on it, but we do know it will permanently divide us as Australians.<\/p>\n Some Voice supporters say this would just be a first step to reparations and compensation and other radical changes. So, what would come next?<\/p>\n DIVISIVE<\/p>\n Enshrining a Voice in the Constitution for only one group of Australians means permanently dividing our country.<\/p>\n It creates different classes of citizenship through an unknown body that has the full force of the Constitution behind it. Many Indigenous Australians do not support this.<\/p>\n PERMANENT<\/p>\n Putting a Voice in the Constitution means it\u2019s permanent. We will be stuck with negative consequences.<\/p>\n TEN REASONS TO VOTE NO<\/p>\n 1. THIS VOICE IS LEGALLY RISKY<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Constitution is our most important legal document. Every word can be open to interpretation.<\/p>\n Australia hasn\u2019t changed its Constitution since 1977. This would be the biggest change to our democracy in Australia\u2019s history.<\/p>\n It is a leap into the unknown. This Voice has not been road tested. There is no comparable constitutional body like this anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n Enshrining a Voice in the Constitution means it is open to legal challenge and interpretation by the High Court.<\/p>\n Legal experts don\u2019t agree, and can\u2019t know for sure, how the High Court will interpret such a constitutional change.<\/p>\n \u201cI would foresee a decade or more of constitutional and administrative law litigation arising out of a voice…\u201d (Ian Callinan AC KC, former High Court Judge)<\/p>\n This opens a legal can of worms.<\/p>\n 2. THERE ARE NO DETAILS<\/p>\n This is a big decision. However, the Government won\u2019t reveal key details before the vote.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know how it will help disadvantaged communities and close the gap.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know how many members this Voice would have.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know if they would be elected or chosen, or how this would occur.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know how it would make representations or be held accountable.<\/p>\n These details would only be worked through after Australians have voted.<\/p>\n According to the Yes campaign, it \u201cdoesn\u2019t make sense\u201d to have details before the vote:<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any sense to do that detailed consultation until we have the support of the Australian people to change the constitution.\u201d (Yes23 Brochure)<\/p>\n This is the wrong way around.<\/p>\n You wouldn\u2019t buy a house without inspecting it or a car without test driving it.<\/p>\n Yet you are being asked to vote to change our Constitution without details.<\/p>\n Australians shouldn\u2019t be asked to sign a blank cheque.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can Australians possibly agree to something where we don’t know the detail?\u201d (Senator Kerrynne Liddle, Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence and Arrernte woman)<\/p>\n 3. IT DIVIDES US<\/p>\n Enshrining in our Constitution a body for only one group of Australians means permanently dividing<\/p>\n Australians. Many Indigenous Australians do not agree with this.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Voice will not unite us, it will divide us by race.\u201d (Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians and Warlpiri woman)<\/p>\n This goes against a key principle of our democratic system, that all Australians are equal before the law.<\/p>\n \u201cThe inclusion of the proposed s 129 would mean that we become a nation where, whenever<\/p>\n we or our ancestors first came to this country, we are not all equal.\u201d (David Jackson AM KC, former Federal Court Judge)<\/p>\n Our Constitution belongs to all Australians. Our Parliament is there to represent all Australians. It<\/p>\n now includes a record 11 Indigenous Members and Senators.<\/p>\n Our national anthem was recently changed to reflect the fact we are \u201cone and free\u201d.<\/p>\n By contrast, this Voice would permanently divide Australians, in law and spirit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all Australians. And that\u2019s the way it should end up. It shouldn\u2019t be divided by this so-called Voice which is going to split this country right down the centre.\u201d (Ian Conway, Central Arrernte Senior Custodian)<\/p>\n 4. IT WON\u2019T HELP INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS<\/p>\n We all want to help Indigenous Australians in disadvantaged communities, to close the gap and achieve reconciliation.<\/p>\n However, more bureaucracy is not the answer.<\/p>\n There are currently hundreds of Indigenous representative bodies at all levels of government, along with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, which has 1,400 staff.<\/p>\n A centralised Voice risks overlooking the needs of regional and remote communities.<\/p>\n \u201cA national voice cannot speak for country.\u201d (Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO, Australians for Unity board member and Bundjalung man)<\/p>\n Right now, many voices are crying out for help in tackling devastating social problems in some remote communities. What\u2019s needed is action. \u201cWhat we need in Canberra is ears, not a Voice.\u201d (Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians and Warlpiri woman)<\/p>\n 5. NO ISSUE IS BEYOND ITS SCOPE<\/p>\n This Voice model isn\u2019t just to the Parliament, it goes much further \u2013 to all areas of \u201cExecutive Government\u201d.<\/p>\n That includes all government departments, agencies and other bodies (like the Reserve Bank).<\/p>\n Decisions in relation to the economy, national security, infrastructure, health, education and more, would all be within its scope.<\/p>\n In the words of a member of the Government\u2019s Referendum Working Group: \u201cThe voice will be able to speak to all parts of the government, including the cabinet, ministers, public servants, and independent statutory offices and agencies \u2013 such as the Reserve Bank…It can\u2019t shut the voice up.\u201d (Professors Megan Davis and Gabrielle Appleby)<\/p>\n In the words of a constitutional law professor who supports the Voice: \u201cI think it\u2019s fatally flawed because what it does is retain the full range of review of executive action. This means the Voice can comment on everything from submarines to parking tickets\u2026We will have regular judicial interventions.\u201d<\/p>\n (Professor Greg Craven AO)<\/p>\n Many legal experts have expressed concern about its scope, however their concerns have simply been overlooked.<\/p>\n 6. IT RISKS DELAYS AND DYSFUNCTION<\/p>\n The Australian Parliament deals with hundreds of pieces of legislation a year.<\/p>\n This Voice\u2019s scope goes beyond Parliament, covering departments, agencies and all areas of \u201cExecutive Government\u201d.<\/p>\n How would the Voice handle this?<\/p>\n If the Voice is not satisfied with the way it has been consulted, or a decision that is made, it could appeal to the courts. How long would this take?<\/p>\n Many legal experts have warned this would cause considerable delays in decision making.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Voice will almost certainly become a lightning rod for protracted debate about a vast array of current issues. Nearly every matter of current concern on the national agenda will be seen as having an Indigenous component of some kind.” (Nicholas Hasluck AM KC, former WA Supreme Court Judge)<\/p>\n The risk of legal appeals and delays means a risk of dysfunctional government.<\/p>\n That is not good for Australia.<\/p>\n 7. IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR ACTIVISTS<\/p>\n The legal uncertainty and the absence of details raises the question: what comes next?<\/p>\n Some Voice supporters are upfront in saying this Voice will be a first step to reparations and compensation and other radical changes.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first step, it\u2019s a vital step and it puts all the explanation behind it. \u2018Pay the Rent\u2019 for example, how do we do that in a way that is transparent and that actually sees reparations The Uluru Statement from the Heart says a Voice is a first step, before a treaty and truth telling.<\/p>\n By definition, a treaty is an agreement between governments, not between one group of citizens and its government.<\/p>\n A member of the Government\u2019s Referendum Working Group has described \u201ctruth\u201d as \u201cleverage\u201d to lead to \u201cthe abolishment of the old colonial institutions\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a way to further what we need for our people in any negotiations for treaties and for other things like legislation, reform and abolishment of the institutions, the old colonial institutions that harm us.\u201d (Thomas Mayo, Referendum Working Group)<\/p>\n Already, many activists are campaigning to abolish Australia Day, change our flag and other institutions and symbols important to Australians.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always been #abolishAustraliaDay, changing the date is a cop out.\u201d (Teela Reid, Referendum Engagement Group)<\/p>\n If there is a constitutionally enshrined Voice, these calls would grow louder. \u201cAustralians need to understand that the Voice will be used to support the demands for recognition of coexisting sovereignty, a Makarrata commission designed to produce a treaty and monetary compensation, and a rewriting of Australian history\u2026 The potential for great irremediable harm to Australian society means the voice should never 8. IT WILL BE COSTLY AND BUREAUCRATIC<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know how much additional funding would be allocated to this Voice.<\/p>\n That\u2019s another detail that would only be determined after the referendum.<\/p>\n There are currently hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative bodies at all levels of government.<\/p>\n This year, the Government has allocated $4.3 billion for the National Indigenous Australians Agency, which has 1,400 staff.<\/p>\n This Agency\u2019s website and corporate plan says: \u201cWe\u2026 ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them.\u201d<\/p>\n There is no suggestion this Voice will replace any of these. It will operate as one bureaucracy among many<\/p>\n 9. THIS VOICE WILL BE PERMANENT<\/p>\n This Voice is not a trial or pilot program. It will not be in legislation that can be reversed.<\/p>\n Once it is in the Constitution it won\u2019t be undone.<\/p>\n Once the High Court makes an interpretation, Parliament can\u2019t overrule it.<\/p>\n We will be stuck with the negative consequences forever.<\/p>\n 10. THERE ARE BETTER WAYS FORWARD<\/p>\n This referendum is not about simply recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.<\/p>\n That can be achieved without tying it to a risky, unknown and permanent Voice.<\/p>\n Recognition has the widespread support of Australians. However, this Voice proposal is the problem.<\/p>\n There are many Australians who oppose a Voice on principle.<\/p>\n Others might be willing to consider a less risky Voice option, but the Government has not given you this choice.<\/p>\n When previous changes to the Constitution have been proposed, there has been a Constitutional Convention to properly consider options and details.<\/p>\n No such process happened here. This process was rushed and heavy-handed.<\/p>\n This approach isn\u2019t unifying, or effective. It\u2019s divisive.<\/p>\n THIS DECISION IS YOURS<\/p>\n This is a very important decision. Unfortunately, the legitimate questions and concerns of many<\/p>\n Australians have been dismissed.<\/p>\n Fortunately, this referendum won\u2019t be decided by politicians, corporations or celebrities.<\/p>\n It will be decided by every Australian. It affects every Australian.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t know, vote no.<\/p>\n MORE INFORMATION<\/p>\n For information and updates go to:<\/p>\n www.riskyvoice.com<\/p>\n www.oneandfree.au<\/p>\n www.australiansforunity.com.au<\/p>\n To download the full “yes” and “no” cases, head to aec.gov.au\/referendums\/pamphlet.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\nListening<\/p>\n
\nBetter Results<\/p>\n
\ndecades.<\/p>\n
\npractical change.<\/p>\n
\nfirst team from the Northern Territory ever to qualify.<\/p>\n
\nand compensation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people\u2026?\u201d (Thomas Mayo, Referendum Working Group)<\/p>\n
\nbe incorporated into the Australian constitution\u2026\u201d (Terence Cole AO RFD KC, former NSW Supreme Court Judge)<\/p>\n