James Morrow: We now see what the move for a ‘voice’ is really about

If there’s anything good to come from what we can only assume was a brain fart on the part of the PM’s office, it is this: We now see what the move for a “voice” is really about.

So, there we have it.

Definitive proof that the campaign for an Indigenous “voice” to parliament is not about good manners, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls it, but rather importing the worst of American race politics to our shore.

The spectacle of Shaquille O’Neal, African-American former basketballer and gambling app spruiker, appearing next to the prime minister this weekend to give his support to the voice was bizarre enough.

But some of the commentary defending it should be downright worrying to anyone who actually wants Australians to genuinely heal their racial divisions.

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal with Anthony Albanese and Linda Burney at the weekend. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Backing in Shaq’s appearance Monday morning was environment minister Tanya Plibersek.

Asked to defend this on Sunrise, Ms Plibersek said, “I think Shaquille O’Neal has been a really strong voice for Black Lives Matter in the US and he wanted to make a few comments here in Australia. Good on him.”

Well, good on him indeed, but are Black Lives Matter’s’ toxic and divisive politics really what we want to import to Australia?

Tanya Plibersek defended the use of Shaquille O'Neal to give his support to the voice.

After all Black Lives Matter – BLM for short – was the driving force behind much of the violence that followed the death of George Floyd in the US in 2020.

Neighbourhoods were torched, billions of dollars in damage was caused, and at least 20 people lost their lives in the riots.

Thousands of protesters kneel and salute at a Black Lives Matter rally in Sydney.

Black Lives Matter was the driving force behind much of the violence that followed the death of George Floyd in the US in 2020.

Whatever our racial problems here in Australia, we should be glad no one is proposing that sort of solution here.

And that’s before getting into the other controversies around BLM, from its founders buying up multi-million dollar real estate portfolios to their backing in of divisive critical race theory in schools, universities, and corporations.

How, again, would any of this be good for Australians – no matter their skin colour?

If there is anything good to come from what we can only assume was a brain fart on the part of the PM’s office, it is this: We now see what the move for a “voice” is really about.

It is about increasing, rather than decreasing, the role of race in our society, and when coupled with the other demands of the Uluru Statement – for treaty and “truth telling”, whatever that means – Australians should be very worried indeed.