A bill to alter the constitution and enable the Indigenous voice has passed the federal parliament ahead of Australia’s first referendum in 24 years to be held later in 2023.

The Senate passed the bill on Monday 52 votes to 19, confirming the wording of the constitutional change to be put to the Australian people. The draft legislation passed the lower house last month.

    • Bill Stickers@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      It’s not racist. There’s no detriment to anyone. I will agree I don’t want this in the constitution for hundreds of years when it’ll be meaningless eventually. But it isn’t racist.

    • sycamores@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      The voice to parliament isn’t about race, it’s about ensuring that the traditional owners have constitutional right to advise parliament.

    • Dalek Thal@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      …silly duffer, the constitution already empowers the government to make laws about race (s 51 xxvi). This power has been used regularly against Indigenous Australians.

      Or is it only racist when it’s against white people?

      • TheHolm@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Any differential treatment based on race is racism. Only way to stop it is not having it mentioned anywhere in the law. We need to stop this practice not enshrine it.