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Credit: Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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THE CONSTITUTION
We have good reasons now to doubt that our Constitution is adequate to the modern task. For starters, too many people do not know it exists or what it says. On the “if you don’t know, vote no” precedent set last weekend, every future attempt to amend the Constitution would fail on the call of a calculating opposition leader.
Perhaps it is time to map out the pathway to an Australian bill of rights and obligations. We could have a decade of civic and civil debate. Perhaps the first clause could have something to say about the right of First Nations people to be recognised and heard, alongside the obligation on all of us to listen and learn.
Jean Ker Walsh, Woodend
Stuck in the past
One thing that is becoming increasingly clear following last weekend’s disastrous attempt to amend our Constitution is the need for ongoing constitutional conventions, peopled by a cross-section of our community with reasonably broad powers outside the pure political realms. It smacks of crass ignorance that a document penned by a narrow selection of jurists, politicians, and advantaged citizenry enacted in 1901 is so difficult to alter.
At its adoption we were still a horse and cart economy; long before we had faced issues such climate change, industrial and public pollution, responsibility for water supplies and river flows nationally, environmental and soil degradation, species loss, computerisation, national security etc. To avoid the shocking disappointments, guilt and reputational damage done last weekend, constitutional conventions might be a better pathway to us becoming better versions of ourselves without the divisions, trauma and angst.
Graeme Foley, Werribee
Do we really care about the Constitution?
The two key elements of the failed referendum need to be separated out – the Indigenous Voice to parliament, and the change to the Constitution. It isn’t hard to interpret the No result as racist when so much of the misinformation circulating beforehand was about how much Indigenous people stood to gain over the non-Indigenous people who are struggling to make ends meet.
I find it hard to believe that the majority of people care enough about the Constitution to vote against changing it. The Constitution is not an immutable document and as Professor Anne Toomey says (“Constitution should not be frozen in time”, 17/10), “every constitution needs occasional review and updating…”
What a great opportunity we missed last Saturday, both to acknowledge the history and culture of our First Nations people, and to update the Constitution and correct its glaring omissions.
Beverley Campbell, Castlemaine
Set in concrete
Anne Twomey is spot on with her wise commentary about changing the Constitution by a referendum. The same thing can be said about the Bible. The Constitution was never meant to be set in concrete and immutable to review and neither should the Bible. We back ourselves into an anachronistic corner when we refuse to acknowledge how some of the laws and attitudes need review and updating.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
The real problem
Anne Twomey is being disingenuous. The structural and fatal flaw of the referendum question was that it was not written in bipartisan co-operation, unlike the 1967 example.
David Thomson, St Kilda
Not so equal
Your correspondent (“Colourblind rules”, 18/10) should note that the Constitution is not, as they claim, colour blind. In fact, the Constitution already explicitly allows for laws to be passed on the basis of race. Nor does the constitution provide universal equality under the law as claimed. The Constitution in fact confers different rights dependent upon where you live, for example voters in smaller states have significantly greater representation in our Parliament.
Simon Bennett, Hawthorn East
THE FORUM
They didn’t know
The Australian Electoral Commission has announced that 2.5 million voters did not cast a vote in the referendum and will be fined. This number of non-voters (nearly 16 per cent of eligible voters) is way above the usual figure shown in federal elections. It’s also almost 30 per cent of the number who voted No. The most likely factor is probably that these people were not aware that voting was compulsory and reflects on the AEC’ s failure to communicate this effectively prior to October 14.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds
Glass half full
It’s important to keep the results of the Voice referendum in perspective.
Far from being a comprehensive defeat, 40 per cent – 8 million people – voted to allow our First Nations peoples to speak to us. This number represents a vigorous, engaged, sustained and purposeful effort on the part of thousands; a mighty thrust into the future. A glass almost half full has more benefit than the part that is empty.
Rose Marie Crowe, McKinnon
Flagging an approach
Changing the flag could be a way to bring the 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture and history into the mainstream of Australian history, now that the attempt to incorporate the Voice into the Constitution failed. The Australian flag is a good, popular flag and over the years several plans for replacing it have faded away without much enthusiasm. However, the Union Jack in the left-hand top quarter is beginning to make it look dated.
A new design could incorporate a less severe Union Jack with symbols of the Aboriginal and multicultural story that is also part of Australian history.
Robert Murray, Hampton
No reasons
Now the Voice has been rejected, Yes folk present a plethora of reasons why it was struck down. Politicians and indigenous persons who spoke against it are blamed. “No” voters lacking a tertiary education are inferred as “dumb”, and the last resort of the desperate? Playing the racist card! Simply put, Australia had no need of a “voice”.
Why do I say that? Our democracy has set in place comprehensive supporting organisations, inside and outside government, to meet every Indigenous lobbyists’ need. The federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs is Linda Burney, herself a notable Indigenous person, with direct access to the Cabinet and Prime Minister! What further level of support is needed?
The recent emotional rhetoric would have had us believe that adding another layer to existing bureaucracies would fix problems of indigenous housing, health, education, employment and domestic welfare. Linda Burney knows full well of these problems.
If we did need this “voice”, then I ask: “What is Minister Burney, together with all other people at every level of government, doing to fix these problems now?”
Jim Lamborn, Doncaster
Still angry
Ordinarily, when people win a game, a sporting event, or an election, they are happy. They want to celebrate their victory. So there’s something puzzling about the letters that people who voted against the Voice are sending to The Age. It’s the anger. A similar phenomenon is on display in post-Brexit Britain – ‘leave’ voters hate talking about Brexit, the British tabloid press pretends it never happened, and Conservative politicians refuse to answer questions about the shining victory for which they campaigned so hard. I wonder if, like a cheap wine, both victories leave a sour taste.
Nick Eckstein, Kangaroo Ground
Time for celebration?
Your correspondent bemoans the lack of letters “hailing the result” of the referendum. Has it occurred to him that given what we now know about the overwhelming support for the Voice in remote communities, some No voters might be thinking there is no cause for celebration.
Libby Cooper, East Bentleigh
Setting a standard
I am proud of Goanna frontman Shane Howard’s bold action in returning his OA to the Governor General. A majority of the Australian population has proved itself to be ignorant. I hope all other AO holders will follow Howard’s lead.
John Gordon-Kirkby, Mornington
Next generation
Seeing the photo of the two beautiful Indigenous children on your front page on October 14 (“Their future in your hands”) highlighted for me where the advertising campaign for the Yes vote went wrong. Being old enough to have voted in the 1967 referendum where the advertising had a beautiful baby on the campaign posters – had your front page photo been on the posters with a slogan like “Vote Yes to give us a fair go” I believe the Yes vote would have been much closer, even if it still may not have got over the line because there was not bipartisan support.
Leah Billeam, Portarlington
True equality
More than 60 years ago my youngish looking father was challenged for claiming the over-35 handicap in a picnic race where most of the others were under 35. Dad was 49 at the time. Unknowingly, I was watching an example of affirmative action that enabled Dad, by asserting his rights, to finish among the place getters. True equality is about equality of outcomes. Any “one size fits all” starting line will always disadvantage some individuals or groups. Sociologists call this unequal life chances. We are all formally equal before the law, but unequal life chances without an agreed handicap system means far too many first Australians, and their children, are destined to always be among the also-rans.
John Carmichael, Hawthorn
Saved from a mistake
Excellent news that the High Court has ruled against Victoria’s low emissions vehicle road tax (“Victoria’s electric vehicle tax thrown out by High Court”, 18/10). It was embarrassing and counter-productive that our generally progressive state was dubbed to have the “worst EV policy in the world”. With Australia’s transport emissions rising annually and a reported 11,000 people dying prematurely each year due to vehicle exhaust air pollution, governments should be doing everything possible to incentivise cleaner, healthier low-emissions vehicles. The health and environmental gains will surely outweigh the meagre funds taken from the pockets of EV drivers.
Amy Hiller, Kew
How will we react?
Will Australian state and federal governments now be lighting up landmark buildings across the nation in solidarity with the Palestinian victims of the explosion at the Al Ali Baptist hospital in Gaza? All human life must be valued.
Bruce Francis, Brunswick
How it began
World opinion has already started turning against Israel and the invasion of Gaza has not even begun. People should not forget how this conflict began. Hamas executed a well-planned vicious assault on peaceful Israeli civilians while the nation was relaxing on a public holiday and distracted by a major internal debate.
Peter Curtis, Werribee South
The burden is wide
Once again the independent school lobby wheels out the alleged difficulties which increased fees will bring to “hard-working, aspirational families”, (“Another 18 schools in line for payroll tax”, 18/10). Perhaps educational costs are a huge burden for a wide range of families whether or not they are paying fees? The plight of these families does not diminish their aspirations for their children. Imagine an aspirational society in which genuine attempts were made to ensure that each student was able to access the resources offered by those educational businesses.
Russell Harrison, Sandringham
Is it really the Bard?
Matt Hutchinson’s review of Elizabeth Winkler’s book on the dreaded Shakespeare Authorship Question was well expressed and apposite. But The Age should be more cautious about accompanying the article with the so-called Cobbe portrait purporting to be Shakespeare. When this portrait was exhibited at the 2009 exhibition The Face and Figure of Shakespeare, former director of the London National Portrait Gallery Sir Roy Strong and both of the exhibition curators agreed that its subject is Sir Thomas Overbury, a courtier who was sent to the Tower of London. Publishing portraits purporting to be Shakespeare where the evidence is still limited only muddies the waters of an interesting and ongoing puzzle.
James Goding, Princes Hill
Truly upset
It was an amazing upset when Afghanistan beat England in a game of the Cricket World Cup. But even more amazing is that Afghanistan is allowed to compete in the event. About 50 years ago South Africa was banned from international sport because of its apartheid policy. Those bans influenced South Africa to eventually cease apartheid. The persecution of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban government is comparable.
Kevin Watters, Heathmont
End of the wedge
When will we stop concreting over fertile farmland and precious wildlife habitat? (“Green-wedge rail freight terminal plan hits opposition”, 18/10). The proposed new transport facility near Werribee makes sense if you work for a freight company or believe expanding our physical economy is the way of the future.
But that’s not me. Nor is it for those who understand that the green spaces around Melbourne are essential for locally sourced food and for critically endangered grassland animals and plants. Any further erosion of these precious remaining Green Wedges is a loss forever. I am thankful that many good people are opposing this damaging development.
Ian Penrose, Kew
No reason for deportation
It is cheering to read that the Butt family have been granted Australian visas thanks to the intervention of Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. I am humiliated by the idea that my government would deport a family only because a family member has a disability.
Juliet Flesch, Kew
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
High Court
The High Court drove their EV Chevy through the levy.
Paul Custance, Highett
The Voice
I’m not “sulking” I’m grieving.
Ro Bailey, Hawthorn
I’m still trying fathom what the Australian people were so afraid of. We’ve admitted millions of people from many and diverse countries all over the world, but the folk who were always here have had the door shut in their face.
Michael Read, Carnegie
Anthony Albanese promised the Voice referendum at the last election. He has fulfilled this promise – he could never guarantee that the referendum would be successful!
Barry James, Lilydale
So, Peter Dutton, your scorched earth policy has stopped the Voice. What now is your vision for Australia?
Niall Milton, Ferntree Gully
In response to your correspondent (And Another Thing, 18/10), “what the No side actually thinks they have achieved” is to save Australian democracy from the imposition of a new form of hereditary political privilege.
Albert Riley, Mornington
Middle East
A brilliant Golding cartoon (18/10). Perhaps world leaders could provide a positive guideline to resolution, instead of futile words.
Mary Cole, Richmond
An eye for an eye and the world will go blind.
Danny Hampel, Caulfield North
Gaza. People start to die after no water for three days.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
Names
Katy Hall’s delicious story of coffee order name confusion made my morning. She could give “Beuller” a spin next time and see what happens.
Shannon Brand, Carnegie
I enjoyed Katy/Sadie’s tale. I have a solution – I have a name sticker on my keep cup. The barista asks my name, I say “Jocelyn”, they look concerned, and I point to the sticker. It works a treat for both of us.
Jocelyn Penington, Brunswick
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