Strengthen Our Constitution in The West Australian
MONDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2023
When Western Australia voted to join the Federation in 1900 it was to deliver better outcomes by bringing people together.
WA is again being asked to deliver better outcomes through our Constitution by bringing people together.
Because adopting the Australian Constitution was good for the people of Western Australia.
Federation helped our State grow. Perth in 1900 had no sewerage, Fremantle railway station was yet to open, even teddy bears had not yet been invented.
Those writing Australia's constitution could not imagine the world that we live in today. Radio. Internet. Even tea bags and instant coffee were ideas of fantasy.
Still, they got so much right. Yet they missed a tradition that had been on this land longer than any other.
For 65,000 years, Aboriginal people had an ongoing say in matters that affect them.
Then Albany, Perth and other colonies appeared.
Before long these colonies rightly rejected London making decisions about Australia without consultation.
So they began writing. And the document that federated our nation was consulted on, then voted on.
But the drafters of the Constitution did not listen to everyone. The Constitution does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
A Liberal Prime Minister and a Labor Opposition Leader established the Referendum Council in 2015.
After a comprehensive process of consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people right across Australia, the Referendum Council provided its answer in 2017.
They told us there should be an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. This is how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want to be recognised in the Constitution.
They proposed a practical form of constitutional recognition.
This positive vision about the future is contrasted so painfully with what has emerged from the miserably negative No campaign.
The No campaign brings no vision, no plan and no hope for a better future.
Sadly, some of the debate makes me wonder whether key figures in the No campaign have even read the Constitution. Have they ever read the Explanatory Memorandum for the referendum legislation that even Peter Dutton voted for?
The misinformation, outright lies and fear campaign were all expected from Mr Dutton's “No” campaign.
But what has surprised me is the arrogance.
Peter Dutton's arrogance to say he will hold a second referendum after he had nine years in Government to do exactly that. They boast it's been their policy at past elections - but they never acted, another unfulfilled promise.
The arrogance from Senator Michaelia Cash to encourage people to avoid information. To close your eyes, block your ears and vote No.
The arrogance from Andrew Hastie to rewrite the lyrics to John Farnham's You're the Voice.
Worst of all is the arrogance to refuse to put any alternative plans to close the gap.
I challenge the No campaign in WA to put one single idea forward. What is their plan for WA? The No campaign's status quo in Western Australia isn't acceptable.
2023 is the year we finally say the Gap must be closed.
A boy born in WA today has a life expectancy of 80 years. If that child is Aboriginal they can expect just 67 years.
They won't even reach retirement age. That 13-year gap in WA is bigger than the national average of eight years. I know the good people of this State don't accept that is good enough.
Voting Yes is our chance to not only say we can do better, but to actually see practical change.
It is clear that the current system is broken. The Voice is our best chance to fix it.
Constitutional recognition through a Voice will strengthen our constitutional conventions.
Our Constitution is founded in the notions of consultation, listening to different perspectives and respect for our traditions.
It is in this spirit every West Australian can choose to vote Yes.