In among the Meghan and Harry dramas, we return to the important business of our own constitutional change with some pertinent words from Noel Pearson about advancing Indigenous Recognition at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. Pearson asks five basic questions about this change: What? Why? Where? Who? When? He says that “recognition is a mirror”. The Republic is also a mirror but in a different way of course. Republicans should also ponder these questions in the context of their own cause. He concludes by providing a streamlined process for change: “Let us complete the legislative design of the Voice, and produce an exposure draft of the Bill so that all parliamentarians and the members of the Australian public can see exactly what the Voice entails. Let us set the Bill aside and settle on the words of constitutional amendment that recognises Indigenous Australians and upholds the Constitution, and put the amendment to a referendum of the Australian people at the next best opportunity.” WfaAR’s comment: This change has to go through first before voters can contemplate creating a Republic, a new and improved version of Federation. A recommended read for all republicans is on the link below.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
