Upcoming votes
It seems we are going to be asked to vote on two major issues in the foreseeable future.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Readers will be well aware of my anti-gay marriage stance and that won’t change regardless of the hyperbole thrown around.
But the really sad and distressing vote we are going to have is about recognising our Aboriginal people in our constitution.
This question will need to be seriously studied by everyone and what is there to study?
To the best of my knowledge there has not been a written case put forward as to what we will be asked to vote on.
As usual, the media mob are harassing us deplorables to suggest we will naturally be for a ‘yes’ vote.
But what would we be voting for? A separate ‘Aboriginal state’ where they can make their own laws? And have their own justice system, and police force, and taxes to support it?
Would we grant some form of Aboriginal land title to all the land they now have native title on? Fenced in, border barriers, etc?
I have some great Aboriginal friends and I know they are just as frustrated as the rest of us thinking Aussies, but what will ‘recognition’ in the constitution actually achieve?
Throwing more money at Aboriginal problems just will not solve anything, and will most likely make the situation worse.
Just look at what has happened along Cape York if you want to see how throwing more money does not help. The last thing we need is an Aussie version of apartheid.
Of course most of us have great sympathy for our Aboriginal people, but how to help them?
Des Goonan
Wagga
No right to deny others their rights
How did a definition of marriage become such an issue that the nation has to be polled on it?
Why do I get a say on whether two people who love each other should be denied the right to marry? It has no effect on my live whatsoever if two people choose to bureaucratise their relationship under the Marriage Act. It has no effect on anyone else. Why should we care?
Marriage is not the preserve of religion – it is the preserve of government. Up until 2004 the Marriage Act defined marriage between two people, there was no prescription of gender. That was changed in 40 minutes to prevent the ACT from legislating ‘gay marriage’.
A plebiscite will be a nightmare. Already Tony Abbott is urging anyone who is against political correctness and religious freedom to vote ‘no’ on any plebiscite about marriage equality. One of the political leaders is already blatantly subverting the process for political gain.
Equal rights and non-discriminatory legislation are not ‘political correctness gone mad’, it is at the core of Australian values. It is ‘fair dinkum’, ‘true blue’ and above all a ‘fair go’.
If we have to vote and you are opposed to marriage equality, please consider doing the honourable thing and either vote yes or abstain. Please don’t encourage our government to continue to actively discriminate against one section of our community. Either we all have should access to marriage or no-one should.
Scott Howie
Uranquinty
Same-sex marriage
I was discussing same-sex marriage with a female teenager. She said “it won’t affect me so what has it got to do with me?” That is exactly the point. Because a couple gets to marry how does that affect anyone else, so why are we being asked to vote on it? She wont be voting because she cannot see that her opinion matters.
Nothing to do with her.