DEBATE REGARDING AUSTRALIA’S “VOICE” DESCENDS INTO NAME CALLING
Debate of Australia’s Prime Minister’s push for the “Voice” sinks to new lows. The “Voice” is an Aboriginal advisory body to parliament and governments which the Prime Minister wanting enshrined in Australia’s constitution, which requires a referendum. The “yes” campaign is being treated favourably, with tax breaks which are not available to the “no” campaign, however instead of rational debate and looking what has happened in other countries, it has descended into calling anyone who opposes the change is racist. This would be laughable if not serious, determining that anyone opposing race-based privileges being granted in the Constitution is racist is absurd and hypocritical. In countries with race-based differentiation in privileges in their constitution have never done well, and it reverses the hard-won gains in equal rights over the last few decades. Furthermore, it is very likely that should this succeed, then other groups in society will start demanding special privileges in the Constitution. As bigotry and inequality increasing the world, this is the last thing that Australia needs.