Where did the idea of Constitutional Recognition for First Nations peoples come from?
In 1965 Prime Minister Robert Menzies noted in parliament that Aboriginal people are not Australian citizens and the government cannot legally control them. See the Hansard record of 1 April 1965.
In 2007, Prime Minister John Howard, announced that if he was re-elected, he will put a referendum to the Australian people to formally recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution. ABC Report (link is external) 11 October 2007
John Howard’s statement was made during the same period of government when he was opposing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, opposing a Treaty and following the introduction of the Northern Territory Intervention and the shutting down of ATSIC.
Why is the government pushing for Constitutional Reform?
The government can say that because the First Nations people voted for the changes in the referendum they have specifically voted to be controlled by the government.
The government wants more control over First Nations people, especially those living on ‘valuable mining land’
The government wants to extend its power to further dislocate and marginalise First Nations people who have not already assimilated
The invaders of these lands and the following governments have been aggressively trying to ‘breed out’ and/or assimilate First Nations people since the invasion in 1788, when they released there were more Aboriginal people on the continent than they first thought and they were people with established societies.
They have needed to eradicate the people to justify their terra nullius claim (unoccupied and free to colonise).
But how can they get away with it?
They have spent many millions dollars on the ‘Recognise’ campaign through advertising and other promotions, from the popular sports through to the arts.
They have employed well known assimilated Aboriginal ‘Leaders’ to actively promote their campaign and have added a further $15m in the 2016 Budget to press the ‘Yes’ vote in communities around the continent.
With over $100m already spent on the ‘Yes’ vote they have never allocated any money on people or organisations to put up a case for the ‘No’ vote or to explain the pitfalls.
The commercial channels (Fox, 7, 9, 10 groups of channels) are all funded and operated by big business interests and collect advertising revenue from ‘R’ Campaign, and are also regulated by the government.
The ABC and SBS (NITV) is funded and being bullied by the government
Former PM Tony Abbott inferred that all Aboriginal government funded organisations must support ‘Recognise’ or their funding may be compromised. (blackmail)
There has been a media blackout on all mainstream media outlets to describe what rights Aboriginal people will get from Constitution Recognition or the disadvantages – this goes against the ‘democratic’ assumption of the Australian government system.
Who is the ‘Expert Panel’ on Constitutional ‘Reform’ who advise the government?
They are (un-elected) people especially selected and funded by the government to promote Constitutional Reform.
See: Proposed Constitutional Reforms are treasonous and Fraudulent
There were 40 government funded people at the June 2015 ‘Constitution Recognition’ meeting at Kirribilli (link is external) with the then PM and Leader of the Opposition.
New Referendum Council
On 7th December, 2015 the government appointed a new council to promote Constitutional Reform to work independently to the ‘Expert Council’ , including some of the front line people from the ‘Expert Panel’, which was named ‘The Referendum Council’. This council includes more non-Indigenous people than the ‘Expert Panel’. The non-Indigenous members are leading right-wing Lawyers and media experts..
The Referendum Council members list: Professor Patrick Dodson (co-chair) Resigned), Mark Leibler AC (co-chair), Stan Grant (tipped to become co-chair replacement), Pat Anderson AO, Professor Megan Davis, Andrew Demetriou, Murray Gleeson AC QC, Kristina Keneally, Mick Gooda, Tanya Hosch, Jane McAloon, Michael Rose, Natasha Stott Despoja AM, Noel Pearson, Amanda Vanstone, Dalassa Yorkston, Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM. Please note: None of these people were voted for or appointed as spokespersons by the Aboriginal community. Referendum Council members images (link is external)
See: An overview by Ghillar Michael Anderson and Referendum Council Announcement – PM Media Release (link is external)
Why should I oppose it?
Because the government wants to name First Nations people in the constitution so they have more power over them.
It will allow the government to discriminate on the basis of race.
It fails the test of compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf (link is external)
It gives the government the power to pass legislation like the ‘Northern Territory Intervention’ against the First Nations people in all the states
‘Sovereignty was never ceded’ – this legislation will make it much harder for people to assert their sovereign rights – in other words. it will kill any chance of workable and grass roots self-determination
The vote will give non-Indigenous people the power to make the decision on ‘Recognition’ (This is because they have 97% of the vote.
The Australian CONstitution purely is used for the sole intent of maintaining power.
Professor G. Clements (an eminent UK QC and emeritus Professor in law at Cambridge). He summed up the situation thus,
“The continued usage of the Australian Constitution Act (UK) by the Australian Governments and the judiciary is a confidence trick of monstrous proportions played upon the Australian people with the intent of maintaining power. It remains an Act of the United Kingdom. After joining the League of Nations in 1919 Australia became a sovereign nation. It had no further legal power to use, alter or otherwise tamper with another nation’s legislation. Authority over the Australian Constitution Act lies not with the Australian government nor with the Australian people, it rests solely with the UK. Only they have the authority to repeal this legislation …”
http://members.iimetro.com.au/~hubbca/aust_govt.htm
On 2 June 2015, the Aboriginal Medical Service of Western Sydney (AMSWS) broke the news on the ABC Latelineprogram that a key performance indicator of funding through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) was demonstrable support for Recognise.
A month later comes the news that all Federal funding is ceasing and the AMSWS will be forced to close its doors to the 11,000 patients to whom it provides healthcare.
Coincidence? I don’t think so.
https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/recognise-and-the-government-agenda,7904
Here is a quick summary of the cuts we know about so far:
* $42 million cut from National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS);
* Cut to funding for Vibe Australia, the most recognised platform of empowerment for Indigenous Australians;
* $160 million cut from Indigenous health programs;
* $3.5 million cut to the Torres Strait Regional Authority;
* $15 million earmarked for the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has been cancelled;
* $9.5 million cut to Indigenous language support.
On Friday, May 20, 2016 — ABC News 24 & iveiw gave broadcast to the Indigenous Recognition in the Constitution: Discussion Panel at the Darwin Entertainment Centre as part of the Garrmalang Festival.
It was revealed on this broadcast that $800 million was spent over 3 years on the Government Recognise campaign.
The Referendum Council admitted that once their report goes to parliamentary hands that they lose control over the wording and the Government will have all the control.
The Panel ignored First Nations people in the audience clearly indicating they do not want to be recognised.
Meanwhile the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 section 11(4) stipulates that the government can ONLY spend public funds on printing 2000 word pamplets for mass mail out to the people. Go figure?
Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984, Section 11 (4) https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013C00200
Source of $160mil proposed: http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2016/05/20/black-eye-election-2016-government-spend-over-100m-recognition-referendum
#SovereignTreatyFirst #NoConsent
https://m.facebook.com/462375460579445/photos/a.462392323911092.1073741827.462375460579445/664780900338899/?type=3
Long list of Recognise Campaign Sponsors
Bipartisan political support, I smell a rat!
Backed by the major Football codes, Cricket Australia and corporations including Qantas, Telstra, Westpac, KPMG, Lend Lease, Sodexo, Accor, Transfield, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank Australia, Rio Tinto, Chevron & Woodside & look closer, #GenerationOne was founded by John Andrew Henry Forrest (aka.Twiggy). Under the guise of #Recognition they will legally continue to intervene.. steal country.. further generations, culture, language, heritage, and desecrate sacred sites and song-lines.. and now they attempt to steal #Sovereignty. A recognise vote for Constitutional change will only ever Recognise and protect the Government and vested interests of corporate sponsors. How long do we trust #HumanRights #justice to greedy thieves? How long do we allow the pain, #shame and #injustice Australia? What legacy will we leave for all of our children? #Resist #Revive #Reparation PLEASE SHARE & CLICK ON PICTURE TO CHECK THE COMMENTS
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1875937902632565&id=100006491211435&ref=m_notif¬if_t=feed_comment
Comment – Recognise has been set up by Twiggy Forrest and is supported by mining companies and Transfield..who runs the jails and concentration camps for LNP. It is a total scam and the end result will be a huge loss for Aboriginal people. One of the changes to the act will allow the government to make separate laws for Aboriginal people. Generally that is known as apartheid. Do not be sucked into this…most aboriginal people are against it.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10152939462196406&id=700931405&comment_id=10153583504641406¬if_t=feed_comment¬if_id=1464319023977943&ref=m_notif
Aboriginal And Party Leaders To Discuss Recognise Campaign As Activists Call For More Radical Agenda
If you’re still not sure about the Recognise campaign…Take a look at the major sponsor – Transfield services!!!
#Recognise is a scam!! That’s the only thing we need to recognise!!!
Sovereignty and Recognition discussions -by Alice Haines videos 1 -3b
#RecogniseTheScam #Recognise is lies #VoteNoToConstitutionalChange #NoConsent
#VoteNo
#TreatyFirst
Follow links for some of the many other issues for First Nations people (below).
Related articles:
Over 100 articles relating to Constitution Recognition:
http://www.sovereignunion.mobi/search/node/Constitution%20recognition (link is external)
‘New Matilda’, Constitutional Recognition:
http://www.newmatilda.com/search/node/constitutional%20reform (link is external)
‘Red Flag’, Constitutional Recognition:
http://www.redflag.org.au/search/node/constitution%20recognition (link is external)
For more reasons why the ‘Recognise’ campaign is treacherous for First Nations people – Go to: Facebook: Vote ‘NO’ To Constitutional Change (link is external
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=985343934905745&id=350355421701608
thrivalinternational 