Dutton and the future of reconciliation

An article in last week's "The Saturday Paper" by Paul Bongiorno titled as above, is in itself "Truth- telling". The refusal of the invitation to attend Garma by Dutton and his shadow minister Jacinta Price is both confusing and Racist. In his refusal,it is implicit that he and his coalition partners are nothing but racist/bigots

In her refusal,Price who apparently advocates that Aboriginal people should not be spoken about differently by other Australians, yet insists on incorporating her Aboriginal name thus Jacinta" Nampijinpa" Price. While we cannot accuse her of being racist she certainly appears confused.

The opposition leader chooses to profess outrage at the $450million cost of the referendum while ignoring the fact,that he and his coalition partners were the government in the lead-up to the years of discussion between the indigenous people,resulting in the "The Voice to Parliament" and the ensuing referendum. What about the millions paid out by the previous government? Was he outraged about those millions?

While the current government is not above reproach in handling of these matters, it is certainly not above reproach over its handling of the fossil fuel industry relative to Climate change. Both sides of parliament will not instill good governance, but a coalition government under Dutton, will certainly create the impression to the world, that Australia is a racist nation. It should be noted that during "The Voice" campaign he promised a voice for Aboriginal communities, just not one enshrined in the constitution.

Hopefully, a Labor government will keep its promise to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full. This was repeated by the new Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Once again, a parliament of independents selected by and answerable to their individual- electorates, would handle these matters honestly and with dignity.

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