Megan Davis and George Williams discuss Australia's constitution and their book Everything you need to know about the Voice. Topics include the influence of racial discrimination, the lack of civic education, and the misunderstanding of Australia's colonial history.
Enshrining a voice for Indigenous Australians in the Constitution allows for meaningful representation and protection from changing governments, empowering them to shape their own futures and advocate for their rights.
A protected voice in the Australian Constitution is necessary to prevent marginalization, discriminatory policies, and political manipulation of Indigenous affairs, ensuring equality, justice, and community control.
Deep dives
The Importance of Meaningful Recognition
The book explores the significance of meaningful recognition for Indigenous Australians, highlighting the need for substantive and protected representation. By having a voice enshrined in the Constitution, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are lifted out of the realm of retail politics and protected from the whims of changing governments. It allows them to have a say in the laws and policies that affect their communities, providing a platform for their concerns, priorities, and aspirations. Meaningful recognition goes beyond mere acknowledgement and empowers Indigenous Australians to shape their own futures and advocate for their rights.
The Impact of Historical Policies on Indigenous Affairs
The book delves into the history of policies and actions that have marginalized and oppressed Indigenous Australians. It highlights the devastating impact of Tony Abbott's Indigenous Advancement Strategy, which centralized power, decimated Aboriginal community control, and favored non-Indigenous organizations. It emphasizes the need for constitutional protection to prevent Indigenous affairs from being reduced to political football and to safeguard against discriminatory policies that perpetuate inequality and disadvantage.
The Failure of Civic Education and Public Information Campaign
The book raises concerns about the shortcomings of civic education and public information campaigns regarding the Australian Constitution and Aboriginal history. It criticizes the lack of comprehensive and accurate information provided to the public, resulting in widespread misinformation and a limited understanding of the historical and current treatment of Indigenous Australians. The absence of a robust civic education program perpetuates misconceptions, inhibits informed decision-making, and hinders progress toward reconciliation and justice.
The Urgency for a Protected Voice in the Constitution
The book argues for the inclusion of a protected voice in the Australian Constitution to ensure meaningful representation and participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By constitutionalizing the voice, Indigenous Australians gain a platform for influencing decision-making processes, demanding accountability, and advocating for their communities. The protected voice seeks to elevate Indigenous issues above the realm of partisan politics and provide a transparent mechanism for Indigenous Australians to voice their concerns, aspirations, and solutions.
Megan Davis and George Williams join Mark Kenny live on campus to talk about Australia’s constitution and their new book, Everything you need to know about the Voice.
Some critics of the Voice argue it would “introduce race” into the constitution, but is racial discrimination in fact a significant factor in the document and its history? Has the government dropped the ball by not running a civic education campaign in the lead-up to the referendum? And why is Australia’s colonial history not better understood by the broader population? On this special episode of Democracy Sausage, recorded live on campus at The Australian National University (ANU), Professor Megan Davis and Professor George Williams AO join Professor Mark Kenny to talk about the upcoming referendum and their new book, Everything you need to know about the Voice.
This episode was recorded live as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author series on 7 August 2023. Everything you need to know about the Voice was published by UNSW Press.
Megan Davis is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Society), the Balnaves Chair of Constitutional Law, a Professor of Law and the Director of the Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW.
George Williams AO is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Assurance), the Anthony Mason Professor and a Scientia Professor of Constitutional Law at UNSW.
Mark Kenny is a Professor at the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.