‘The Voice’ – Bill Lawson submission
• The Federal Government’s proposal to establish ‘The Voice’ on a
legislated basis should only be seen as a first step toward constitutional
enshrinement.
• The fact that the Federal Government has precluded constitutional
enshrinement from the current process should not be an impediment to
its pursuit.
• Inhibition of constitutional enshrinement by ‘under funding’ remains a
risk to effectiveness.
• Many thinking and caring Australians are annoyed and frustrated by the
Federal Government’s seemingly ill-considered and immediate rejection
of the Uluru Statement.
• This propensity of successive Federal Governments to summarily reject
proposals and projects focused on overcoming our First Peoples’ many
disadvantages is clearly a trend which does not allow debate and
consideration by the Peoples House, let alone by referenda.
• This situation is not democratic, but autocratic, exercised by successive
Prime Ministers and Opposition Leaders of the two main parties behind
closed doors dumping, amongst many others;
o ATSIC
o Recognise
o Congress
These summary dismissals without input from either the Parliament as
the ‘Peoples House’ or referenda are unfair and un-Australian. This
practise cannot be allowed to continue unchallenged.
• There is a need for a clear opportunity for ordinary, thinking Australians
to make their displeasure known.
• The current ‘Voice’ implementation process needs to be supported in its
establishment by legislation but only as a first step.
• This support needs to be both by strength of numbers and financial but,
importantly, independent of Governments in order to provide certainty
and security for the ‘Voice’ as it migrates from a legislated base to full
constitutional enshrinement.
• Possibilities to do so in a manner compatible with current ‘The Voice’
proposals are currently being explored.
Bill Lawson.
28th April 2021.
