IlandarThe Indigenous Voice to Parliament – separating fact from fiction | 7.30
I think more needs to be done when it comes to First Nations people and closing the gaps but just can’t get past the fact of allowing a group based on race to hold a position in parliament without being voted in each term by Australian voters.
Except they're not in Parliament. The Voice is a body that can make submissions to Parliament; they don't get to make the decisions. Parliament is still made up of elected representatives.
So if they can make submissions to parliament and the executive on matters, which don’t have to acted upon, why do we need constitutional reform to allow it as part of our government. Aren’t their numerous other organisations that do this already, provide advice to parliament on matters affecting First Nations people though their representatives?
It needs a constitutional change to ensure that it stays around and can become a part of the fabric of how things are done in the longer term. Even though it is relatively powerless, there is potential for it to provide influence over time for the betterment of First Nations People, but that would be lost if the next government just disbanded it as has happened in the past.