Australian Politics

[LetMeSleep]

It was the day that the first fleet (convict settlement) arrived in Sydney Cove.

I honestly hope that the next government is a Labor government and they call for another republic referendum. Once we break from the UK/monarchy we can establish a shared day to celebrate. Make it around mid to late January (NOT 26th) and it remains the end of summer holidays public holiday we have now.

We can also piss the union jack off of our flag while we're at it.

These are two entirely separate issues. Unless I'm mistaken, public support to retain the monarchy has been growing steadily since the 90s, as has support for changing the date of Australia Day. We can have both!

Yes we can, I agree. However I don't see it happening until we become a republic.

[Birds in Hell]

It was the day that the first fleet (convict settlement) arrived in Sydney Cove.

I honestly hope that the next government is a Labor government and they call for another republic referendum. Once we break from the UK/monarchy we can establish a shared day to celebrate. Make it around mid to late January (NOT 26th) and it remains the end of summer holidays public holiday we have now.

We can also piss the union jack off of our flag while we're at it.

These are two entirely separate issues.

Support for the monarchy has grown significantly since the 90s, I think it would be a massive blunder for any near-future government to revisit the issue (Turnbull was wise to leave it alone during his term).

I had presumed there was a groundswell of support for changing the date of Australia Day (and originally reflected this in my post), but I can't find anything that bears that out. A Guardian/Essential poll in 2017 found 70% of Australians still support retaining 26 January as Australia Day.

Just for the new page, I revised my post (as explained therein).

[Higgs]

I think that the 70% may need to revisit this on the basis that it doesn't mean a lot to them whilst it does mean a hell of a lot to those who see the 26th as Invasion Day.

That's my point - why not give over something that most people don't care about except for (a) inertia and (b) "It's always been the 26th Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Check out my Southern Cross tat".

The needs of the few outweigh the many in this case imo.

[LetMeSleep]

The few are growing. It may be that I work on 2 indigenous tv channels but I see a lot more change happening (or maybe just awareness).

[Higgs]

Sorry Day means a lot and cost Australia nothing. I see this as something similar - much upside, little downside.

And it would give the BLM movement here in Australia some solid change to point to. It seems we live in a time where people want change.

[Green Habit]

Yeah, there are someone analogues between Australia Day and Columbus Day over here in the US. The latter is additionally problematic due to the bad things Columbus himself did, but while you can't turn the clock back on colonialism, it's not exactly something that should be outright celebrated, either.

[Let's all laugh at Rangers]

I'm not sure how much appetite there is to make Murdoch Land a Republic...

[Higgs]

We keep voting against it for some reason.

Must say though, I'm not particularly passionate about it either way. Pretty sure 'Sleep is pro Republic and Spenno is pro Queenie. Not sure where other RMers stand.

[LetMeSleep]

Man did I enjoy this one. I wasn't aware of the collusion and the delaying tactics that Kerr used. The angle of the CIA and the US, added with the Prince Charles comments make this still a mystery as to influence on Kerr.

Now I'm catching up on The Guardian's pod Full Story regarding the Palace Letters from a month ago.

[LetMeSleep]

Pretty sad about the result, the handling and the politicization of our last referendum.

2 lyrics have bounced around my head these past days.

Bury the rag deep in your face, now is the time for your tears.

There's no such thing as someone else's war
Your creature comforts aren't the only things worth fighting for
Still breathing, it's not too late
We're all carrying one big burden, sharing one fate

I'd love to see an age breakdown of this vote. I feel more and more that country is being held back by retirees.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I’m only getting news of this when i watch bbc. Can you explain what the referendum/amendment would have done if passed? Seems like it should be a no brainer but i guess I’m missing something?

[LetMeSleep]

It was to establish an advisory board in our constitution for our Indigenous people. It had no power. It was purely to advise parliament on matters relating to indigenous affairs from an indigenous perspective.

[E.H. Ruddock]

So who would be against that?

[simple schoolboy]

So who would be against that?

1) It was super vague regarding composition and numbers.

2) Why is this a constitutional amendment when presumably should be a short lived law before equity is achieved?

3) Indigenous* are slightly over represented in their legislature compared to their population percentage (4% vs 3%?). Do they not already have a voice in government?

No one really knew what this was going to be, so there was lots of speculation of what it could turn into. The pro side had lots of complaints regarding misinformation, but because it was so poorly defined they didn't have a very good reply. I saw some speculation regarding land use.

Best case scenario: it was going to be a sinecure for AWFLs with a small percentage of indigenous ancestry. Worst case scenario: who knows.

* Australia seems to have a worse case of Elizabeth Warren disease than we do.

[BurtReynolds]

So who would be against that?

Anyone who knows it's bullshit.

It's somehow both powerless and unimportant, yet also a deeply devastating loss if it fails.


"It's not happening, also its happening and its a good thing"

[simple schoolboy]

So who would be against that?

Anyone who knows it's bullshit.

It's somehow both powerless and important, yet also a deeply devastating loss if it fails.


"It's not happening, also its happening and its a good thing"

The shorter and more correct answer.

[LetMeSleep]

So who would be against that?

Anyone who knows it's bullshit.

It's somehow both powerless and unimportant, yet also a deeply devastating loss if it fails.


"It's not happening, also its happening and its a good thing"

I found this a good piece on the difference between Australia and NZ.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67076216

A lot of Australia don't recognise that there is/was a problem.

[Higgs]

Pretty sad about the result, the handling and the politicization of our last referendum.

2 lyrics have bounced around my head these past days.

Bury the rag deep in your face, now is the time for your tears.

There's no such thing as someone else's war
Your creature comforts aren't the only things worth fighting for
Still breathing, it's not too late
We're all carrying one big burden, sharing one fate

I'd love to see an age breakdown of this vote. I feel more and more that country is being held back by retirees.

I am very fucking sad that this referendum failed, but not surprised at all.

I am however at least a little bit happy that my electorate (Curtin) was the only WA electorate to actually vote Yes (although barely).

I got this link from Reddit yesterday - interesting breakdowns: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-15/ ... KQSAoU5e_s