11-12-2014 NSW becomes the first state to back referendum on Indigenous recognition by launching the ‘Recognise’ campaign. The Federal ALP, Greens and Conservatives have already given verbal support.
In the video that accompanies this announcement an Aboriginal girl tells that Aboriginal people are the oldest living people on earth. She also explains that this fact is not mentioned in the Australian Constitution, suggesting that this is an ‘obvious omission’. The video does not explain why mentioning Aboriginal people as a special group in the Constitution is important. More on ABC
A self declared ‘black feminist’, Celeste Liddle, has a clear reason to oppose this Recognition movement: “The longer the Recognise campaign goes on, the more I feel it proves itself to be little more than a government-sponsored ad campaign removed from grassroots Indigenous opinion, (…) little more than corporate endorsements and photo opportunities for powerful figures to prove how much they like us. It’s a shame that I don’t like a good many of them in return.”
Wake Up Time comment: the obvious necessary changes, especially the removal of racist clauses in the Constitution are undisputed, but re-instating other legislative procedures based on race are simply as wrong. Therefore the proposals should not pass the referendum. It is time to end discrimination for 100%, including preferential treatment.