After the week of mourning following the results of the October 14^th referendum, I finally feel ready to put my thoughts into words. Learning the Australian Constitution is racist, was astounding. According to UNSW Law Professors, the constitution was written to allow for discrimination of citizens based on race and culture–check out the open letter here. (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-06/open-letter-constitutional-law-university-voice-to-parliament/102937352 ).

When my family arrived from England in 1969 it was the Assimilation Policy that allowed for racism to flourish.

The rules were enforced; speak English, denounce your home country and culture, act like the locals, and even if you’re doing that you will still be labelled an ‘alien’. In 1975 the Racial Discrimination Act was introduced, but nothing was done about the constitution.

Australia, unlike its Western cousins, did not sign a treaty with the traditional owners.

Nor does Australia have a national Human Rights Act. And;

This gap is particularly concerning for vulnerable groups, such as young people navigating the youth justice system, vulnerable individuals and families relying daily on public housing, disability services or social security, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities seeking to uphold their cultural rights.

https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/legal-and-policy/australias-human-rights-framework/

Ensuring the constitution is changed supports not only the Indigenous but all minority groups.

After reading the open letter from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

this is what stood out for me;

“It is the legitimacy of the non-Indigenous occupation in this country that requires recognition, not the other way around. Our sovereignty has never been ceded.”

(https://ugc.production.linktr.ee/2e09849a-25e6-4743-8317-e33dfb437728_Statement-for-our-People-and-Country.pdf )

Times are tough—high-interest rates, salaries not keeping up with inflation, and petrol prices skyrocketing.

But for the Indigenous, health, education, food and shelter are continuing concerns—the basics in life. What happened on the 14^th of October, has cemented Australians as racist.

“Australia chose to make itself less liberal and less democratic”  

(Statement for our People and Country)

Just look to history to determine what the next steps are. Communities that are downtrodden and discriminated against don’t stay silent. They won’t remain invisible or compliant. Look to the 7^th of October for evidence.

Equity and the constitutional conversation must continue.

“While this moment will be etched into Australia’s history forever, today we think of our children, and our children’s children. Our work continues as it has always done. We will continue to fight to seek justice for our peoples. We are three per cent of the population, and you are 97 per cent.”

(Statement for our People and Country)