DEAR News Of The Area,

THERE appears to be a lot of negative misinformation about the upcoming Voice referendum, so let us dispel a few of the worst myths.

What is proposed is essentially just another advisory body, just like the thousands of other advisory bodies ranging from irrigators, miners, recreational fishers, maritime rescue, migrants, to the confectionary industry.

All this advice can be accepted or ignored by our parliament.

The proposed body is no different.

Where is the detail?

Plenty if you look.

The detail of how the proposed body won’t be inserted into the Constitution because how it will work will be decided by parliament, that is, our elected representatives.

It can also be changed by our parliament.

A lawyers picnic? Not according to constitutional lawyers.

Racially divisive? What?

The colonial settlement of Australia has not been racially divisive since settlement?

Race is already in the constitution.

It was inserted in the 1967 referendum so that the Commonwealth could make laws pertaining to Aboriginals and not just leave it up to the states.

Constituting an advisory committee is not a radical idea.

And saying it is permanent and can’t be changed overlooks the fact that the referendum seeks to make a change in the first place.

So the Constitution is not permanent and can be changed.

And the makeup and operation of the body can be changed at any time by our parliament.

The only thing they can’t do is abolish it without a referendum.

The Voice will not magically solve any or all problems but it is a step along the way.

A YES result will signal that we are prepared to listen and change the way that we move forward.

It is what was asked for in the Uluru Statement, is supported by 80 percent of Aboriginal peoples, and it is a very modest, but meaningful, proposal.

Regards,
Peter SOBEY,
Valla.