Australia Unveils Referendum on Indigenous Recognition and Inclusion

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The time is now to hold a referendum on whether Australia should change its 122-year-old constitution and begin recognizing the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a consultative committee in parliament to provide non-binding advice on matters that affect Indigenous people. Australian history did not begin in 1788. Human beings have lived there for 60K years, making it the oldest continuous civilization on Earth. That should be a source of pride.

Establishment-critical narrative

The argument against the "Voice" is a matter of principle: should we abandon the egalitarian nature of Australian democracy and give one racial group — and their descendants for all time — constitutionally guaranteed additional influence in all areas of public policy? The answer is no. The ideals of liberal democracy that emerged in revolutionary America and France must be defended.

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