Digging a hole for division

ALL THREE levels of government in Australia are promoting ‘reconciliation’ and the Senate has just passed a bill which will trigger a referendum on ‘The Voice’.

If successful, the referendum will entrench in the Constitution as yet unspecified powers for Indigenous people.

Reconciliation is defined in the context of ‘The Voice’ as “At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, for the benefit of all Australians”.

Can somebody please explain how the new WA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act is compatible with these objectives, and what benefit there is to non-Indigenous Australians in being required to pay Aboriginal consultants for permission to dig a hole on their own property?

Geoff Appleby
Toodyay