Thursday, 31 August 2023

Voice to Parliament

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (10:10): Yesterday Prime Minister Albanese released the worst-kept secret going around, that 14 October would be referendum day. I would just like to quote Mr Mundine, a very highly regarded Indigenous leader. The yes campaign:

… is a fantasy novel about a magical wand called the Voice that will solve all problems. Actually, they can only be solved by economic participation: kids in school, adults in jobs, business creation & home ownership.

I endorse what Mr Mundine said. Mr Batchelor revealed yesterday that he would be a proud voter for the yes campaign. I am here today to reveal, if you had not already guessed, that I will be a proud campaigner for the no campaign. I do not believe you solve division by creating division, still less by entrenching it in the constitution. The experience in Western Australia shows us the danger, but at least that law could be repealed. Once we put race in the constitution, we cannot take it out. We already have a clause on race in the constitution which probably should be removed. I have always argued that closing the gap is key but that it is about economic opportunity and nothing else.

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We’ll share a dream and sing with one voice

I am, you are, we are Australian.

I reiterate what Martin Luther King said:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.