Two of our Indigenous leaders are in fine voice

The working of Australia’s democratic system of government is on full display with Country Liberal senator for the Northern Territory, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, penning a private senator’s bill to reinstall the ban to keep drink out of vulnerable communities until an alcohol management plan can be put in place. (“Senator’s plea to reinstate grog bans”, 27/1).

Her sentiments were supported by Lingiari Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, who said that if the Northern Territory government fails to step up and resolve the crisis the federal government will intervene.

Here we have two democratically elected Indigenous women from opposite sides of the political spectrum offering pragmatic advice on how to resolve the tragic breakdown of society and rule of law, based mostly on alcohol and drug abuse in Alice Springs and surrounding communities. In effect, our Indigenous people already have a “voice”.

The question is, will the Labor government take any notice? As Price said: “Instead of investing millions into a racially divisive referendum and another overpaid bureaucratic body, the government should be investing in effective drug and alcohol services and effective rehabilitation.”

Her sentiments were reflected in Scrymgour’s statement that the voice to parliament was the “furthest thing from her mind” at present.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic.

I strongly agree with the sentiments expressed in Henry Ergas’s article (“Voice to entrench racial separatism”, 27/1).

The first sentence, “We are not responsible for the Australia of the past, we are responsible for the Australia of the future”, encapsulates this vital fact.

Our family was fortunate to have migrated from Hungary to Australia as legal migrants in 1948. We are proud to be Australians and consider every citizen should have equal rights.

One of the many benefits of being an Australian citizen is the freedom of speech and every citizen having one vote in democratic federal and state elections.

The federal government of the day is then entitled to make laws through parliament if it has the numbers in both to House of Representatives and the Senate.

Passing legislation on the voice would mean that a small number (less than 5 per cent) of the population would effectively have a second vote on a wide range of unspecified issues, which in turn will affect 100 per cent of the population. This is definitely not a fair go for every citizen.

Over the past 50 years both Coalition and Labor governments have spent substantial funds to assist the Indigenous population in terms of education, health and housing.

There are many educated and influential Indigenous people, including Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who have taken leadership roles and who are prepared to show the way forward for all Indigenous people.

One example is detailed in Senator Price’s opinion piece (“Horrors in my home town inevitable”, 27/1).

The voice is a divisive proposal that will hopefully not be implemented, particularly as the full extent of its role has not been explained and it is likely to be applied in some way to issues that relate not only to the Indigenous population.

Peter Lorschy, Killara, NSW

John Bell (Letters, 27/1), as a woman in her 60s, I heartily congratulate Tom Calma, Senior Australian of the Year, not only for getting a “gong” but also for speaking his mind. Australians of the Year are renowned for speaking out. It is one of the reasons we honour them. I know of Tom’s long and unstinting work in trying to close the gap. If there is one wise elder to whom we should listen on how to vote in the referendum then Tom Calma is my man. It is always beneficial to listen to wisdom when making important decisions. I, for one, am voting “yes”.

Jill Pierce, Eaglehawk Neck, Tas

My response to Tom Calma’s Senior Australian Award acceptance speech was markedly different from John Bell (27/1). I want to learn Calma’s words – from the heart. It will take conversations among friends and colleagues who have niggles of doubt on voting yes, to dispel unfounded fears. Tom’s words should be front of mind. He made it so obvious that this must be the way to go, and knocked any contrary argument I have heard out of the ballpark. Now to find those words.

Carolyn Ingvarson, Canterbury, Vic