So, the No’s have it. Well it was an overwhelming No in terms of The Voice vote, and it (The Voice) is probably doomed to being kicked down the road like an unwanted can.
But is there a way we could just tear things up and start again? The Constitution is our foundation document but does not recognise the original inhabitants of Australia, and maybe this is the thing that needs to change.
From that point, a retrospective treaty could be created, and life would be fairer. That’s just my take on it. And people reading this, don’t bother putting your two cents worth in by contacting me as there has been enough division over the subject.
Hand on heart, I voted yes, however it wasn’t before a fair bit of deliberation due to my lack of trust when I was told to simply “trust in the process”. And I even had a run-in with one of our senior journalists, who ended the argument with “I’m right and you’re wrong and that’s the end of it” – simply because I wanted clarification around what it meant to vote yes.
But back to the Constitution, the nation’s birth certificate. According to the document:
“The Australian Constitution was then passed as part of a British Act of Parliament in 1900, and took effect on 1 January 1901. A British Act was necessary because before 1901 Australia was a collection of six self-governing British colonies and ultimate power over those colonies rested with the British Parliament. In reality, however, the Constitution is a document which was conceived by Australians, drafted by Australians and approved by Australians.”
It talks about government structures, the Queen and her representative, the Governor-General, and structures of parliament. Check out these couple of extracts that I found while tediously pouring over the 51-page document.

59. Disallowance by the Queen
    The Queen may disallow any law within one year from the Governor-General’s assent, and such disallowance on being made known by the Governor-General by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament, or by Proclamation, shall annul the law from the day when the disallowance is so made known.
60. Signification of Queen’s pleasure on Bills reserved
    A proposed law reserved for the Queen’s pleasure shall not have any force unless and until within two years from the day on which it was presented to the Governor-General for the Queen’s assent the Governor-General makes known, by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament, or by Proclamation, that it has received the Queen’s assent.
    And there’s lots more where that came from, dry dribble about how we report back to Old Blighty.
    So, my point is, rather than trying to cram something new like The Voice into the old crumbling out-of-date document, wouldn’t it have been better for our leaders to have used The Voice money to become a republic in a timely manner? I don’t know when – oh yes, like when the Queen died.
    And then we could surely use this opportunity to put in whatever we want including recognition of our First Nations people.
    Money-wasting bureaucratic rant over…

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson has issued a public statement following The Voice to Parliament federal referendum outcome.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson: “We acknowledge the outcome of The Voice to Parliament referendum and first and foremost our thoughts go toward our community in Ballarat and I ask that everyone remains respectful of each other.

“We have seen in the lead up to the result of this vote the impact on individuals and communities and it is very important that we are considerate of one another. We are especially mindful of First Nations people in our community and the need to extend respect and kindness both now and in the weeks ahead.

“The City of Ballarat recognises and values the work and teachings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities across this region, and we remain committed to working together and emphasise ways to improve quality of life for all of our residents.

“Our focus as a Council continues to be at a local level, including supporting the work of our Koori Engagement Action Group, finalising our fourth Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025, which outlines the organisation’s commitment to supporting the reconciliation process and continuing to mark significant dates on our annual calendar such as NAIDOC Week and National Sorry Day, which educates the community and celebrates the contributions of our First Nations people.”

The Hepburn Shire Council has formally stated its unanimous support for the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the Voice to Parliament.

Mayor of Hepburn Shire Council Cr Brian Hood said the stance was consistent with the council’s position to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in August 2022.

“Our support for the Voice to Parliament aligns with the work Council does towards recognition and reconciliation, including actions within our four-year Council Plan, Community Vision and Reconciliation Action Plan,” said Cr Hood.

“Examples of this work include the award-winning Manna Gums Frontier Wars Memorial near Coomoora; bringing language back to Country with the creek naming of Larni Barramal Yaluk; and supporting a range of community activities that promote understanding and reconciliation,” he said.

In reaching its unanimous decision councillors acknowledged that a First Nations Voice to Parliament would be an independent, representative advisory body that will provide a permanent means to advise Parliament and Government on matters affecting the lives of First Nations communities – including advice on practical steps to improve health, education, employment and housing. Most importantly, a Voice to Parliament would be the means for recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution for the first time.

Councillors further noted that supporting constitutional recognition aligns with Hepburn Shire Council’s Reconciliation Plan and its underlying commitments to self-determination, partnerships, community dialogue and truth-telling.

Council has also resolved to share clear, credible information on the Voice to Parliament and all aspects of the upcoming referendum.

“We appreciate there are divergent views on this matter within the community. Providing clear and credible information will assist residents in making their own considered and informed decision,” said Cr Hood.

“As always, we encourage our community to inform themselves and respectfully exercise their democratic right to have their say,” he said.

The council has adopted the following motion:

That Council:

1. In recognition of the position advocated by the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and consistent with the Council motion of August 2022 supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, formally supports constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, through a Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution;

2. Commits to sharing clear, credible information on the Voice to Parliament and all aspects of the upcoming referendum to assist residents in making their own considered and informed choice on the day; and

3. Acknowledges that any position resolved by Council is without prejudice to individual position each Councillor, or Council officer, may privately or publicly pursue.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has reinforced a commitment to help locals residents make their own well informed and carefully considered choice in the nation’s upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum.

At its recent July scheduled meeting the council endorsed a notice of motion in relation to the Australian Government’s Voice to Parliament.

The move reinforces the council’s commitment to share information to enable residents to make their own considered and informed choice in the referendum.

Issuing a media statement, the council is encouraging local residents to visit the Australian Electoral Commission website to gain further information, and says its positioning statement on the upcoming Referendum aligns with its Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-23.

RE Just Sayin’… – July 3, 2023 Issue 283
I enjoy and appreciate The Local, thank you for providing this free publication. I look forward to getting to the back pages of The Local so that I can be annoyed or buoyed by Kyle’s rant, and entertained, informed and at times provoked by your Just Sayin’… column.
In this issue I was deeply disappointed. You wrote that you don’t know enough about the Voice, and you say the answer to the referendum question should of course be Yes, yet you advise voting No, based on not enough information.
I wonder how much detail the general public have been given in past for constitutional change? This is the first time First Nations people will be enshrined in our constitution and yet you advise to continue to wait? I’m not sure exactly what detail you want?
It is intensely upsetting that you echo and amplify Peter Dutton’s very loud and very privileged arguments, someone who has done nothing significant to improve the lives of Aboriginal people.
I’m not a First Nations person, but white people stole their lands, killed Aboriginal people, stole children and ruined their culture and now prevaricate about ‘letting’ them have a voice, when we are the ones on stolen lands. Enough information is out there to start the process, and the referendum is just the first step in the process.
I’m really upset that you are in a position of influence and are advising readers to vote no, whilst also saying you don’t know enough. Read The Voice To Parliament handbook, listen to podcasts, talk to First Nations people.
Are you hearing the voices of Aboriginal people? Are we used to being in a position of power and not able to see how truly devastating this would be if we voted against the referendum? If people vote ‘no’ then governments will think they have the authority to continue to do nothing of consequence, and nothing will change and nothing will improve the lives of Aboriginal people. Nothing.

From: Mez Lanigan, Trentham
(Ed’s note: For the record, I said the vote should be yes but I fear it will be no. Not to vote no.)
Letters and musings are always welcome. Email news@tlnews.com.au
Any addressed Dear Sir will be deleted – you know why 🙂

By Donna Kelly

I WAS going to write about The Voice. It seemed appropriate given this week is NAIDOC Week. I know, National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week. I guess one day was not enough.
But then I started researching, even more than usual, and I don’t know enough about The Voice to write about it. And I think that could be the problem. A lot of Australians don’t know enough about it – even though millions will be spent on the referendum later this year.

And that is where, and I never, ever, thought I would say this, I agree with Peter Dutton. The referendum should be delayed. Of course, we all know that Yes is the correct answer to: “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”. But a lot of us, myself included, would like a
little more detail.
I think, as it stands, with the detail left until after the referendum, that the vote will be No. Australians are a suspicous lot and let’s be honest, there is still racism and ignorance to overcome. I have very good friends, who would do anything for us, salt of the earth, but were always going to vote No. Mind you, they also watch Sky News.
Anyway, I thought instead I could write about the pandemic – and all those lockdowns. I have even got a TL tee-shirt that says “We’re Victorians – We know lockdowns”. Who knew it would ever be a bit of fun.
So during the lockdowns some people rearranged their pantries, or painted their walls or learnt how to make sourdough – hands up if you have now thrown away your starters? You know what I am talking about. Feeding them was only fun for a while.

But other people, like former ABC legend Jon Faine wrote a book, and personal trainer Beth Whiting got herself ready to become a kettlebell world champion.
Millie Gouldthorpe, as she went blind, literally threw herself into painting and Clunes’ Karen Heap continued her amazing work as Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative CEO and has just been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
These are some of the stories we have in this edition and I am, as ever, always amazed by the talent of the community. I know, Jon Faine does not live here, but he is a regular visitor and loves his time in the Central Highlands. So he gets a pass.
I have probably said before that when we first started The Local, Kyle asked what would happen if we ran out of stories. I told him that was never going to be a problem. And it hasn’t. This is Issue 283 and I reckon we do about six feature stories in each edition. So that’s roughly 1696 stories featuring people, places, history, festivals and events. And a total of 596 Just Sayin’…s and Kyle’s Rants.
(Those plural ss are annoying to look at – yet we must resist the temptation to make them possessive.) And we’ve even run 283 of Glen’s garden columns – might have to double his wage when we get to 300.
We are quickly heading towards our 10th anniversary in September this year. Never thought about that when we started but there you go. There will be a little bit of a celebration – invites are going out in a few weeks. (Let me know if you want an invite…) But I guess the main celebration for most of our readers has been 10 years of free reads each fortnight – and weekly for the first year of the pandemic. We just
felt we needed to keep our community informed. Will we be around for another 10 years? Why not? Powerball hasn’t come up yet. And even if we won, we would still be here for the community. Wouldn’t we? Just sayin’..