A Liberal MP who broke ranks over opposition to the Voice has urged Australians to not vote for “parties” at this yr’s referendum and rubbished claims the advisory physique would have any extraordinary powers.
Sydney MP Julian Leeser resigned as opposition spokesman for Aboriginal affairs earlier this yr following the Liberal Party’s opposition to The Voice.
The MP from Berowra advised college students at Griffith University on Thursday the Voice referendum was “an important moment for the country”.
“The words in this referendum represent an idea (…) and the idea is a new structure in our Constitution called the Voice,” Mr Leeser mentioned.
“It is an idea that has come from Aboriginal people through almost ten years of debate, and dialogue.
“It is practical recognition in our Constitution, not merely symbolic. The challenges are too big to hide behind flowery words.”
Australians are anticipated to forged their poll in mid-October on the Voice, which Mr Leeser mentioned would assist governments “make better decisions”.
Mr Leeser described the proposed Voice as an advisory physique which might work with “the grain of the constitution”, not direct authorities.
“There is nothing scary about an advisory body. Every day governments get advice,” Mr Leeser mentioned.
“The Voice does not make decisions and it will not administer funds, programs or land.
“It will have too much on its plate to worry about things some have claimed like parking tickets, submarines, and Welcomes to Country.”
In his speech, Mr Leeser described his involvement in John Howard’s No marketing campaign for the 1999 referendum on Australia changing into a republic, and his perception the structure was “missing something”.
“There was a moment in the (1998) Constitutional Convention, when I was ruled out of order for proposing that Australians be asked a second question at the 1999 referendum, and that was for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians,” he mentioned.
He described the Uluru assertion – as a Jewish-Australian – as being relevant to “many lands and different cultures” who sought refuge.
The Voice referendum, in his phrases, was about delivering the identical alternatives afforded to migrant communities to First Nations peoples.
“So as a proud Australia, I know we must try and grasp what Aboriginal Australians call ‘the torment of our powerlessness’,” he mentioned.
“We must sit with the fact that so many of these wonderful things I spoke about are simply not experienced by First Nations peoples.
“We often think empathy is about identifying with people ‘just like us’ (…) but that is not an understanding and a reckoning with difference.
“It is about standing with people and their right to dignity, freedom, and self-expression when we can’t see the similarities.”
As a self-described “constitutional conservative”, Mr Lesser advised college students on Thursday he believed the Voice was additionally “legally sound”.
He described the No camp as “doing themselves and Australians a misservice”, and mentioned: “Race is already in the constitution”.
“In this country we don’t make laws for French, Chinese, or Indian Australians, Jewish Australians or indeed Catholics or Atheists,” he mentioned.
“We do make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. They are the only people from whom we have ever made special laws.
“I believe it is only reasonable that the parliament consult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians when we make laws affecting them.
“The No campaign is using what I call the Jackson Pollock strategy of campaigning. Jackson Pollock painted Blue Poles.
“His approach was to splatter paint on the canvas and let the viewer be overwhelmed by the chaos: splat, splat, splat.
“None of their arguments are about the wording of the constitutional provision – and that is what we are voting on.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is predicted to announce this week the date of the Voice referendum.
It comes as state and federal Liberal Party members disagree over whether or not to formally oppose the Voice.
Mr Albanese on Tuesday joined former Liberal MP Pat Farmer to marketing campaign for the constitutional change.
Mark Speakman, the NSW Liberal Party chief, earlier this month introduced he would again the Voice.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
