Grattan on Friday: Trying to dodge talking about 'treaty' could do the Voice campaign more harm than good
Retrieved on:
Thursday, August 3, 2023
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The government’s persuasive power in the fight for the Voice is not nearly as effective as it needs to be.
Key Points:
- The government’s persuasive power in the fight for the Voice is not nearly as effective as it needs to be.
- The government has already provided A$5.8 million for a Makarrata Commission – yet to be set up – of which some $900,000 has been spent.
- In successive question times, the opposition pursued Burney about the commission and what it will do.
- She refused to engage, just repeating her spiel about the Voice (although she did say “progress on Makarrata will not occur until after the referendum”).
- Burney, unconvincingly trying to stick to the narrowest of scripts, was caught in the headlights the oppositon was shining on the issue of treaty.
- Albanese in his comments was trying to erect a solid fence around the Voice debate.
- The government, and others on the “yes” side, could do best by confronting, rather than running away from, that reality.