Far North Yes and No camps answer key Voice questions

How many people will sit on the Voice, what delegates will be paid, and whether reps will be elected or appointed have been answered by Far North Yes and No campaigners.

The opening of pre-polling booths on Tuesday marked the final run-up in a marathon campaign to promote the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Yes and No campaigns.

In a last-ditch scramble to convince voters one way or the other, passionate advocates staffed polling stations throughout Cairns handing out how to vote cards and creating a presence ahead of the referendum on October 14.

For those still undecided or wanting to hear directly from both camps the Cairns Post has collated a list of key questions which have been answered by Yes advocate Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews and No campaigner Peter Fitzgibbon.

Cairns No campaigner Peter Fitzgibbon at Rusty's Market last weekend. Peter Carruthers

Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews supports the Yes campaign at the upcoming referendum. Picture: Bernie Singleton

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL SIT ON THE VOICE?

YES

One key point you will be approving when you vote Yes at the referendum is the following:

“The parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to

matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition,

functions, powers and procedures.”

The parliament of the day will be entrusted to pass laws framing the important issues related

to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Voice.

NO

Anthony Albanese says just trust me and follow the ‘vibe’ whereas there is a healthy distrust of all politicians. I note Albanese’s recent offer to include others in setting up the Voice parliament but with almost two years to go before the next election it will be the Labor Government which will set the rules as they control the House of Representatives with the Teal support and the Senate with the Greens support. The suggestion that any non-Labor local

member will have any say is nonsense.

WILL VOICE REPS BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED?

YES

These details will be decided by the parliament of the day. The referendum is only to decide

three things.

Recognise our First Nations People in the constitution of Australia by:

1. The establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice,

2. This Voice to Parliament allows First Nations People to advise and recommend to the

government regarding issues related to First Nations People.

3. See above

NO

This refusal to provide the most basic information about the proposed Voice is for many the principal reason they will vote No.

If I had to guess I believe it will be appointed with 20 to 30 members

selected by the Indigenous Affairs Minister, Linda Burney from among the most

prominent activist Aboriginals but no one can say anything for certain.

WHAT WILL THE VOICE COST PER YEAR?

YES

The Voice will cost whatever the parliament of that day allocates towards the cost to run the

Voice. It is the parliament of the day that will decide the structure, size, term of

representatives, payment for the representatives along with what their scope of responsibility

will be.

NO

In order to know and understand all proposed legislation and decisions to be made by the

Executive would require a significant number of advisors and researches.

It has been proposed that a large amount of office space and staff will be required to be located in proximity to Parliament House.

The cost cannot be accurately calculated but it will be many millions of dollars per year.

WILL VOICE REPRESENTATIVES BE PAID?

YES

The look, shape, feel, function and ultimate process that the Voice will have will be decided by the parliament of the day. It’s also fair to say, if you are asking people to serve on a committee advising government, they like any other person serving the government in an advisory manner, is recompensed for their service.

NO

It would appear, regarding what I have outlined above, that all members will be full

time and be paid accordingly. It has been suggested that the base pay of a member of

parliament will be applied.

WILL THE VOICE IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS?

YES

Experience has shown when Indigenous communities are consulted and have a say in their

future, you have a better outcome. Here in Yarrabah we have a community-controlled health service. This has improved the health outcomes for our community. We still have a long way to go, but the past 10 years has seen significant advancements in the health of our members.

NO

In short, no. There is nothing in the proposed Constitution’s amendments that will make a difference to disadvantaged Indigenous people. We also have 11 Aboriginal members of federal parliament in all political parties and in both chamber of parliament. What we need

are people who are listening and acting on the myriads of advice flowing into

government.

WHY DO WE NEED A VOICE ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT LEGISLATED?

YES

If the Voice is only legislated it can be abolished at the whim of government. If the Voice is enshrined, it cannot be abolished easily by an incoming government.

It would take a referendum to abolish it. Governments will be able to evolve it to reflect the

current needs and wishes of the Australian people, but it will not be able to extinguish it.

NO

The ideal situation would have been for Anthony Albanese to use the existing race power

(section 51 (xxxvi)) to implement a Voice by legislation and thereby letting everyone

know what it was about and give it a ‘dry run’ to see how effective it would be.

Since the mid 1970s there have been six attempts to engage Indigenous Australians in decision making about their future. All have failed for one reason or another.

WILL THE VOICE BE ABLE TO FORCE PARLIAMENT TO CHANGE LEGISLATION?

YES

Simply put, no. The Voice is an advisory body and has no power within either house of parliament. The role of the Voice is important in improving the quality and effectiveness of laws and government policies. But it cannot determine what those laws and policies will be.

It would, however, ensure the government and parliament are better informed when making laws or decisions relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NO

The Voice to parliament will be able to make representations to both our federal parliament and our executive government on almost any topic. If the Voice’s representations are not accepted I believe the Voice could take the matter to the High Court or at least threaten to do so unless the Government gives in to their demands. This would make government almost impossible and would constitute a de facto veto.

WE’RE FALLING BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD BY NOT RECOGNISING INDIGENOUS IN THE CONSTITUTION

YES

Actually, Australia is the only first world nation with a colonial history that does not recognise

its First People in its constitution. This bold statement was made by Linda Burney back in

2019 when she was opposition spokeswomen for Indigenous Australians. What is more concerning, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America all provide greater recognition of their first people than Australia.

NO

You have to be careful when comparing one country with another. Most Australians favour recognition of our First People but the proposed Constitution’s enshrinement of the Voice goes much further and creates a very powerful body which has the potential to control legislation and executive government decisions which is power that no other body, advisory or other has.

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Originally published as Far North Yes and No camps answer key Voice questions