There’s an Irish proverb which says that if you’re going to cut Sean’s hair, make sure he’s in the room.
A coat-of-arms on the Australian Parliament House. PICTURE: Marcus Reubenstein/Unsplash
It seems that for too long our governments have made decisions about Indigenous people, without them being in the room, and we’ve wondered why they haven’t worked. My father saw it first-hand living in Tennant Creek and working with Indigenous communities in the 80s.
That’s why I’m pretty warm to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to the Australian Parliament. If someone was going to make a decision about your people, wouldn’t you want a say?
Is the proposal perfect? Of course not. Will it solve all problems? No, but it can’t be worse. A positive step forward.
I’m saddened by the politicisation of the question, and the hysterical rhetoric on its dangers. It’s not a good look.
I’m adding my voice to the Voice.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
