Treaty

Aboriginal empowerment won't come from a Voice to parliament, but through authority By Michael Mansell Published in The Mercury, Talking Point, pages 16 - 17 The Greens have good reason to consider if the Voice might undermine or block Aboriginal sovereignty. In the context of empowerment, sovereignty means Aboriginal people decide Aboriginal policy. Sure, those decisions have to take account of modern white Australia’s existence, but the fundamental point remains that we, as a sovereign people, decide, not others. By contrast, by merely advising ... Read more

Opinion pieces by Michael Mansell, Heather Sculthorpe and Maggie Walter on Voice, Treaty and Truth, published in The Mercury on Saturday, 21 January 2023. Image of the opinion pages, The Mercury, Saturday, 21 January 2023 Symbolism, Assimilation Had Their Day By Michael Mansell NO to a referendum, yes to a treaty, is a vote for Aboriginal people. The Albanese government has surprised many with its reforms. While the PM is in this frame of mind, we need to convince him that the best way to help build an Aboriginal future is to ... Read more

To Kill a Treaty By Michael Mansell With the Prime Minister and each of the State and Territory governments backing a referendum for a ‘voice to parliament,’ along with media, any dissent is unlikely to be heard. But has anyone considered what cost Aborigines will have to pay for a referendum? The Uluru Statement has four elements – of which the voice idea is but one. Treaty, truth-telling and a voice were all based on the assertion of Aboriginal sovereignty (the fourth element). Mr Albanese has repeatedly said that Uluru ... Read more