How not to run a referendum
I’m finding it hard to follow the logic behind how the referendum about the indigenous voice to parliament is being handled. Now, before I am misunderstood, let me clearly state that I am absolutely in favour of providing better input into our legislature from our indigenous people. Heaven knows they have been marginalised – indeed persecuted – for far too long and it is well past time that this situation was addressed.
But I don’t understand how the whole process is being run. What, exactly, is the referendum asking? What specific changes to the Constitution are being voted for? It seems to me, at least from what is being put out by the parties involved, that the question will be along the lines of “should there be a voice?” rather than “this is how we will give a voice”.
Come on now! That’s just not how it’s done.
Look, I accept we don’t know how it will work yet. I understand and fully support that we need significant input from the indigenous community about how such a voice should be set up and operate.
So, let’s do that. If necessary, postpone the referendum for a short time – as short as possible, but long enough for that consultation to take place, details to be ironed out and a concrete set of constitutional amendments be drafted that can be put to people. Then we can have a referendum that is clear and (I trust) will have a much greater chance at success.
It’s not often – indeed I don’t recall ever – that I have agreed with the current Leader of the Opposition, but in this case I agree that we just don’t have enough clarity about what we are voting for. I think that this headlong rush to a referendum is actually increasing the chance of a failed poll, and that would be a tragic failure to make some progress towards a much overdue reconciliation.
