this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2023
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[–] Instigate@aussie.zone 44 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Fuck. I’m sad. I’m sorry to be Australian right now.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 22 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah - the voice didn't really mean much to my day to day at all, but this loss is indicative of our deepening conservative bent.

[–] samson@aussie.zone 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

With any luck it would have meant something to mine. I'm devastated.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Genuinely sorry for your loss.

[–] samson@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago

Thanks, sadly I've learned a lot about my country and my local areas in how they've polled

[–] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 11 months ago

One of the most stagnant democracies in the west.

We'd rather spend time talking about franking credits than lend an ear to the suffering.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 21 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is quite different to a federal election, where there are so many interesting and new talking points that come out of the results analysis - even if a landslide is predicted beforehand. Tonight it just feels like a immediate confirmation of what we've already known for months, and there is no discussion to be had beyond the same talking points that have been debated ad-nauseam throughout the entire campaign. Without an indication of anything further resulting from this referendum, the whole exercise just feels like a complete dead end.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I hear you. With an election the country is choosing between two different paths. In this case we're either choosing progress or... not.

One of Dutton's talking points over the last few weeks was that he would propose some alternatives after the referendum. I imagine that will be part of the forthcoming "Albo is out of touch" campaign.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

A lot of the commentary I have seen online from non-Indigenous voters, even those who voted yes, is that the government needs to get back to matters of real concern (according to these people). Sadly it seems there is a very real danger of this being the end of mainstream Australia's interest in Indigenous affairs for the foreseeable future.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah. Forgive me for saying so but this outcome is more or less a mandate to not do anything.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 8 points 11 months ago

There's nothing to forgive, I think that is the reality we are facing. We are still very much in this history wars era where we would rather remain willfully ignorant of our past than confront it and move forward as a modern nation. Australia is stuck in the dark ages when it comes to recognition of its Indigenous peoples and it's embarrassing. Not just because we're so far behind other former colonies, but because we don't seem to think there's anything wrong with that.

[–] LowExperience2368@aussie.zone 16 points 11 months ago (3 children)

So disappointing that the government spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this referendum only for the majority of people to vote no (well if the ABC have called it right). I'm interested in seeing what the government does next.

Why the fuck do mining companies get a voice in parliament but the oldest living culture in Australia does not?!

[–] Anonbal185@aussie.zone 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I think if they passed the legislation first as a trial and then if it went well put it through a referendum there would be more support.

I'm not saying he would but he could just force it through legislation now, with the greens support and independents support, Pocock is in ACT who was the only place to vote yes, I think they have enough to pass.

Sure it will go against the results of the referendum, or "the will of the people" but it will be a legal way to do it. I think if it went through legislation it would become like GST, deeply unpopular at the time but it just becomes fait accompli and noone would dare reverse it. Because once in noone wants the optics of being "the racist in the parliament" besides maybe ONP.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 6 points 11 months ago

I think if it went through legislation it would become like GST, deeply unpopular at the time but it just becomes fait accompli and noone would dare reverse it.

Legislated Indigenous advisory bodies have been dismantled on 11 occasions already.

[–] TheHolm@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Because giving voice to mining companies is oligarchy and giving special treatment to any race is racism. Both disgusting but first one much less.

[–] phonyphanty@pawb.social 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Sorry man, but that's not racism. That's equity. Some kinds of people need certain kinds of privileges, because they've been disenfranchised by a racist system for years and years and years. Giving them a leg up is a reasonable and empathetic thing to do.

[–] TheHolm@aussie.zone 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

"Giving some race a privilege" is definition of racism. As long as we continue to mention race in any contents it is racism. We are australian and all australian should be treated equally. Yes they need help but not because their race but because they need help. Just ask yourself why do you consider chinese descendants are second class citizens? They are second members of second oldest cultural tradition in this country.

[–] phonyphanty@pawb.social 7 points 11 months ago

Races of people exist in our society. Observing that, or mentioning race in any contents, isn't racism. I totally agree though -- all Australians should be treated equally. Unfortunately, since colonisation, Indigenous people have not been treated as equal to the settlers. In fact, they've been treated like shit. The system they live under is incentivised to treat them like shit, because it gives other people money and power and land. Crafting special solutions for them, based on their race in a racist system, their culture, their individual needs -- that's the only effective way to help. Every other way is blind. This goes for any group of people. We can give separate, necessary privileges to both Indigenous and Chinese people. It's not a zero sum game.

[–] mranachi@aussie.zone 6 points 11 months ago

That's not the definition of racism.

Giving people in a wheelchair a ramp onto the train is not ableism.

Giving children a booster seat in a car is not ageism.

Bigtory is about discriminating against people based on an attribute. So you'd need to argue that the rest of Australia is having their government representation taken away by the voice.

The entire point of the voice is try and treat people equally by addressing the intergenerational issues caused by systemic racism.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago

It was never about race. It was about recognising that there are two competing forms of sovereignty in this nation, and that it is within everyone's best interests to find a way of reconciling them. Indigenous Australians are not just another racial group in competition with the rest of us.

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[–] Marin_Rider@aussie.zone 15 points 11 months ago

im sad for those that is would have actually mattered, its a shame the 'tyranny of majority' can decide things that apply to minorities. I refuse to go to any cooker pages tonight, no doubt there will be a lot of gloating

[–] Cypher@aussie.zone 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Albanese's defeat speach fell flat and was weak. Just more dithering and deflection. For a self proclaimed conviction politician he sure can't muster any fire in his rhetoric.

Dutton's speach was solid, hit all the talking points and will likely see an approval rating rise. Yet it was full of lies, promises of action on housing and cost of living issues which his government created. Promises to improve defence which rotted under Liberal leadership.

Promises for funds to communities in need, the same communities the Liberals stripped $500 million in funding from.

I was happy to hear a journalist call out Dutton's claim that an audit into where the money is spent, as Liberals were in power for a long time and should know exactly where it went!

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 4 points 11 months ago

Imagine if Albo had decided to make his PM's legacy in to being the one that started fixing wealth inequality and the housing crisis. Instead economically they are sticking with the shit-party-lite approach. Housing being pushed further out of reach for those without due to added demand.

His failure to read the room on the voice will mean his legacy is this failed referendum and fact that it poured more fuel on the division fire.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 11 months ago

Of to a very "no" leaning start.

If it's a "no" outcome I'm gonna have to avoid any Australia related news. Couldn't bare to see Dutton congratulating himself.

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Passing referendums is very difficult in Australia. People are easily scared away from change with emotional arguments unless there is a very clear message and benefit and I think the voice proposal was lacking. The only reason I voted Yes was to show solidarity with indigenous Australians and to oppose some of the ugly characters and lies coming from the No campaign. Try as I could reading the Uluru statement and other supporting arguments I couldn't get excited about it and I can understand why people on the fence would reject constitutional change.

The government should put as much as they can into legislation and be satisfied and I think we should move on.

Unfortunately I think this result has huge lessons for the republican cause. I suspect there won't be a republican referendum this decade now.

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 4 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I think as long as Chuck or his sons don't come over here expecting some big royal event, there is no real impulse for change our system of government.

A key difference in the campaigns would be the fact that the Voice referendum didn't include the element 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Everybody agrees theres a gap between First Nations people and the rest of Aus, (We don't agree on the cause). A Rebublican proposal is trying to change a system that, when comparing to other systems around the world, is working quite well.

[–] billytheid@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

this comment is a good example of how profoundly ill-informed Australians are with regard to our politics; our constitution is a colonialist relic with no inalienable rights and colossal centralisation of power, and people act like it's actually somehow modern or progressive.

by and large Australians are unsophisticated, easily manipulated, political idiots.

anyone with half a brain would look at our system and laugh at the corruption it encourages, here sadly, we don't have half a brain between us.

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[–] Tau@aussie.zone 8 points 11 months ago (3 children)

ABC just called it as defeated, all over before WA even got to start counting...

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 8 points 11 months ago (3 children)

People always say their vote doesn't matter, but in this case they are quite literally right.

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[–] No1@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Antony Green was calling 2 states No at 7:01pm AEDT, and that meant only 1 more No state was required.

He called SA as No at 7:24pm. Not even close....

[–] unionagainstdhmo@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago

I think they called the election wrong pretty early as well, it's probably just automated, but I don't have high hopes

[–] Affidavit@aussie.zone 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Glad this is over with. I fully expect the next week or two to be filled with articles bemoaning how 'No' only succeeded because people are racist/stupid.

Hopefully after this final whinge our politicians and media can start narrowing focus on things most people actually find important.

[–] samson@aussie.zone 15 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Lots of people do care about this and find it important.

[–] Affidavit@aussie.zone 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Hence why I used 'most'. Democracy, amiright?

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[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 4 points 11 months ago (7 children)

Albo’s looking like a one-term prime minister at the moment.

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 7 points 11 months ago

I don't understand how this became a party issue. There are practically no LNP members here in WA, so they don't need to follow the national LNP directives.

The result is: the opposition leader here said she's resigning and voting yes. Our two most well-known Libs (one the former deputy PM) are both publicly in the 'yes' camp.

Not that any of it matters.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 11 months ago

Yeah see this is the part that really grinds my gears. Labor has wasted a lot of political capital on this. They didn't have much to start with. I'm not looking forward to a decade of Dutton.

[–] youngalfred@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago

Something I'd read/listened to recently suggested that it might have more of a detrimental affect on Dutton when it comes to the election - people will remember his campaigning during this, and be really turned off it when voting for a leader. On the other hand, Albanese has done some work towards keeping his leadership separate from the outcome of the result.

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[–] Tau@aussie.zone 4 points 11 months ago

ABC has live results here, the percentage counted is rising pretty quickly.

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago (4 children)

The next time someone tries to tell you that most Aboriginal people didn’t want The Voice:

https://twitter.com/AntonyGreenElec/status/1713353768706928912

Antony Green:
Results for Remote Mobile Teams in the NT electorate of Lingiari. Number columns are first % Yes, then % No and total votes. #auspol #referendum2023

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[–] UnfortunateDoorHinge@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Bad policy sold badly.

If they cannot açcept that, the 'no' campaign will appear more successful than they were, and will play against labour in the election. Is it really racist to criticise the 'yes' campaign?

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 11 months ago

I don't think so. Labor really shat the bed here IMO.

[–] unionagainstdhmo@aussie.zone 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The result isn't being covered very well internationally, looking at the post on lemmy.world, I wonder what ramifications this will have in the pacific

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 12 points 11 months ago

What did people expect? As has been pointed out so many times, Australia is miles behind the rest of the world when it comes to accepting its true history and recognising the importance of its Indigenous peoples. A model of recognition as limited as the Voice can only be controversial in a country where the average citizen is completely ignorant about history. It makes us look stupid and uneducated, which we are.

[–] kerr@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I noticed that everyone has jumped on the “Australia is racist” bandwagon. I think there is that element but I’m optimistic that the referendum failed for other reasons and we can all move on.

[–] unionagainstdhmo@aussie.zone 5 points 11 months ago

I think had there been no advertising, no campaigning, no news coverage, just the alteration to the constitution with a small explanation of its implications and no social media posts we would have had a very different result, but unfortunately we do not live in a utopia

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