As an immigrant and proud citizen of this country, I’m saddened by the referendum’s failure this past weekend. It was a contentious and politicised event, as so many issues are, by factions of the government to undermine the other party. I’m not suggesting that there weren’t valid arguments on each side; however, the lack of clarity as to what the ‘voice’ to Parliament would be and what the limits of the voice were, led to a no campaign that could oversimplify the entire referendum, with their – If you don’t know, vote no. The question is, what now?
In an era where nations across the globe are reckoning with their colonial pasts and striving for social equity, the recent no vote for indigenous constitutional recognition in Australia is, to put it bluntly, a tragic step backward. How can a progressive nation miss the mark so profoundly on this critical issue?
First, let’s look at who and what the referendum was about. Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuous living cultures. The Indigenous people have a heritage that dates back more than 65,000 years. That’s right, when we talk about history, Indigenous Australians have witnessed empires rise and fall, have seen continents shift, and have persisted as the world’s oldest living culture and the custodians of this land. They have never ceded sovereignty; therefore, what we now call Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Given this lineage, one would assume that their voices, wisdom, and insights would be not just sought after but revered. But the reality? They remain one of the marginalised groups in the country. Health, education, and employment disparities are not mere statistics; they are a blazing neon sign of systemic neglect and discrimination made even more evident after this weekend’s vote.
This brings us to the question of why. Why, in the 21st century, would Australians vote against Indigenous recognition? I’ve already, albeit briefly, mentioned the politicisation of the vote, but one cannot ignore the economic incentives at play either. Australia’s robust economy, driven by mining and agriculture, has often come at the expense of Indigenous lands and rights. We live in an age where capital, more often than not, drowns out culture and heritage. This is not just an Australian phenomenon. From the Amazon to the Arctic, indigenous voices are silenced in the clamour for profits. However, even more so than politics and economics, which are sometimes hard to ignore, Australia and other former colonial entities have to contend and grapple with their social history and enduring contemporary challenges of racism, specifically against its First Nations.
The narrative of ‘progress’ has often been wielded as a weapon against indigenous communities. The ideology of development, urbanisation, and global integration has, in many instances, overridden the importance of cultural preservation. But here’s the contention: progress at the cost of eradicating a rich cultural history isn’t progress at all; it’s cultural vandalism.
In the business world, diversity is not just a buzzword; it’s a proven strategy for success. Diverse boards, leadership teams, and workforces lead to more innovative, resilient, and profitable companies. Diversity has become the standard in education – it is part of our professional standards. It is starting, albeit slowly, to understand the lessons from the business world: that diversity equals success. Why shouldn’t the same hold true for nations? Indigenous recognition isn’t just about righting historical wrongs; it’s about leveraging the unique insights, perspectives, and knowledge from tens of thousands of years of lived experience. Rather than seeing this as an obstacle, we should see this as a vehicle to progress by enshrining the historical significance of the world’s oldest culture into our constitution – this is a privilege, not the erosion of the equality of citizenship.
Australia had an opportunity to show the world that it is mature enough to confront its colonial past and integrate indigenous wisdom into its future. Sadly, it opted for regression over progression. So, where to from here? The outcome is a setback, no doubt, but it’s also a clarion call. For every Australian who believes in justice, equity, and a united future, now is the time to stand up, speak out, and push for change. The tides of history may be hard to turn, but they’re not immutable. In saying this, now is not the time for further division. We need to recognise that in a democracy, we all have a vote, and, in this case, that vote was no. To the Indigenous communities of Australia, I say this: the world is watching, and many stand with you. Your heritage, your wisdom, and your rights matter. To the rest of Australia, it’s time to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask: is this the legacy we want to leave for future generations?
Remember, history isn’t just about what’s been; it’s about what’s yet to come. And the next chapter for Australia is still unwritten. The question is, who will hold the pen?
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