WHY VOTE NO
Giving one race an additional constitutional power of representation erodes the democratic principle of "one adult equals one vote."
Our constitution is the ultimate expression of power in our democratic system.
Our current constitution enables the 26 million citizens of Australia to solve complex problems using a democratic system of “representation” whereby “one adult citizen equals one vote” to deliver Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Changing our constitution to give one race an additional power of representation dilutes the very essence of our democracy by devaluing the representation of all the other races. Over the future decades and centuries this will have a profound effect.
We believe in “one constitutional law for all.” We believe that we should not erode the principle of “one adult citizen should equal one vote.”
This does not mean that laws, made at levels lower than our constitution, cannot be made to give forms of greater minority representation or positive discrimination as these laws can be modified by the will of the people at any time.
You should Vote NO to the Voice to parliament so that the core value of democracy is protected forever and that “one constitutional law for all” is maintained.
All Races Should Be Treated Equally In Our Constitution.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 30 per cent of Australia’s resident population was born overseas and “Australia’s population encompasses migrants born in nearly every country worldwide, highlighting our culturally diverse society.”
The success of our multiracial democracy is dependent upon all citizens of all races having equal constitutional power. Giving one group a right based on race, that excludes everyone else, will create a two-tiered Australia permanently divided.
We can avoid long-term increased racial division in society by Voting NO to the aboriginal Voice to parliament.
Aboriginal People Already Have Equal Political Representation
The Constitution (51 xxvi) gives the Federal government the power to make laws affecting ‘people of any race.’ This means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the same constitutional recognition and representation as all races in Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples also have numerous other forms of ‘representation’ in our democracy. This includes 11 democratically elected members in Parliament, a Parliamentary Indigenous Evaluation Committee, a sub-committee on Indigenous Affairs, the National Indigenous Australians Agency advisory board, the Prime Ministers Indigenous Advisory Committee, the Department of Indigenous Affairs, 151 land trusts, 31 Local Aboriginal Land Councils and more than 50 peak Aboriginal organisations advising the government.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the same right as all races to vote in Federal and State elections.
There is no need to give an additional perpetual power of constitutional representation when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are already well represented in our democracy and other legislative solutions can be created to give ‘voice.’
Creates an "Us versus Them" mindset.
The introduction of a group right based upon ancestry will apply a constant lens of race over every policy debate.
This means that a divisive ‘Us and Them’ mentality based on race will develop in our society.
One race will have a greater say than all the other races.
Division breeds conflict. This is not healthy for a multiracial society.
Vote NO to the aboriginal Voice to parliament so Australia can avoid creating social division based on ancestry.
Other countries are examples of decreased representation and decreased opportunity for all the other races.
Australia is not the first country to consider writing race-specific language into a constitution. Many real-world examples exist of the negative effect of racial constitutional inequality.
The result of a group right based upon ancestry is biased legislation that denies all the other races equal representation and opportunity.
Experiences in other countries are reminders that a racially specific power in the constitution (‘Voice’) will have long term detrimental effect upon the functioning of the democracy for all the other races.
Learn more here.
Why so many Australians are calling the concept of ‘the Voice’ damaging to our democracy, racially divisive, and deceptive with long term implications.
Detail is Deceptive
Any claims regarding the detailed powers of the 'Voice' are false. The 'Voice' will exist as a constitutional power and the details governing it will be articulated in legislation. Legislation can be changed any election cycle by any new government. We barely know the details now and any details that maybe provided could be changed at any time. Any claims that the 'Voice' will be limited in its powers are deceptive, as the laws governing it will always be changing over the future decades and centuries. The only thing we do know is that a racially specific power will likely always exist in the constitution.
If you don't understand it - don't vote for it.
All Policy Decisions Will Be based Upon Race
The Prime Minister recently explained that the Voice will have the say in matters "from childcare centres to highways." This example shows us that all policy decisions will now be made through the lens of a particular racial group. Is it divisive when one racial group has greater constitutional representation in our law-making process than all the other racial groups?
The High Court, not parliament,
will be the final decision-maker
The parliament is subject to the decisions of the High Court of Australia. This means that if parliament rejects representations from the 'Voice', the High Court of Australia will have the power to overrule Parliament and have the final say. Therefore a “mere advice” to Parliament may become a High Court ruling on features of the Voice, including its budget, staffing, processes, timing and the breadth of what constitutes "matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples." (Sentence Two.)
There Is A Better Way
Using legislation and not constitutional change will enable us to implement a solution that balances our desires for enabling good social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples without contributing to the decline of democratic function and tarnishing the paramount value of racial equality in our constitutional democracy.
Three FALSE arguments to be aware of.
It’s Only A ‘Voice’
The term 'Voice' sounds harmless. It is often portrayed as "just a say," a mere whisper in the political background.
The fact is: the 'Voice is a technical term to describe a constitutional power of additional representation to Parliament for one specific race. This power will be enshrined in the highest law of the land and have the mandate of the majority of citizens and the majority of states.
It is enormously powerful and will last forever.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait People are not RECOGNISED in the Constitution.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are currently as equally recognised in the constitution as all other races.
Section 51 (51(xxvi) gives the Federal Parliament power to make laws affecting ‘people of any race.’
It is true that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not specifically mentioned in the constitution. However, no race is specifically mentioned. Therefore, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are as equally recognised in the constitution as any other race.
And that’s good for racial equality in Australia.
ONLY “REPRESENTION” AND ADVICE TO PARLIAMENT
A common argument is that the Voice can "merely" give representation and “advice” to Parliament, and that Parliament could easily reject this representation.
Firstly, the details of the Voice are governed by legislation and this can be changed at any time in any way by any government over the future decades and centuries. We don’t know and will never know what future laws will exist that will reduce the capacity of Parliament to reject the representations of the Voice.
Secondly, the very existence of “representation” for one specific race means that every policy debate in Australia will forever be viewed through the divisive lens of race.
Thirdly, the voice will be a constitutional power, mandated by the majority of the citizens and States. It is enormously powerful, and its representations cannot be easily rejected by Parliament. (That’s the whole point of it being in the constitution.)
Lastly, on all constitutional matters, the decisions of Parliament are subject to the views of the High Court of Australia. This means the Parliament may reject representations from the Voice, however, because the Voice will be a constitutional power, the High Court of Australia will have the power to overrule Parliament. The High Court will have the final say. Therefore a “mere advice” to Parliament may become a High Court ruling on features of the Voice, including its budget, staffing, processes, timing and the breadth of what constitutes "matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples." (Sentence Two.)
In Summary
We can create positive social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples without changing the constitution, damaging our democracy, creating racial division and long term social and political impacts by …
Use legislation to advance outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Use legislation to strengthen institutions that foster political, social and economic advancement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Preserve our democracy
Vote No to a racially specific power in our constitution (‘Voice’) to ensure the hard fought for democratic principle of one adult citizen equals one vote is not diluted and is preserved for future centuries.
Ensure one constitutional law for all races
Ensure every Australian, regardless of race, is equal before the law by Voting No to the powerful and racially divisive ‘Voice’ being enshrined in the constitution.
Equal Power For All
We are Australians who not only believe in racial equality but insist on it. We recognise Aboriginal and Tores Strait Islanders as our country’s first peoples, and we passionately support any initiative that improves their lives. But not at the cost of our democracy and racial constitutional equality.
We believe the proposed referendum threatens to eliminate the achievements of generations of democracy supporters by contradicting our most important political ideal:
All Australians are equal before the law.