letter from Australia

A vote handled badly by Christians

David Robertson  |  World
Date posted:  1 Dec 2023
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A vote handled badly by Christians

photo: iStock

Recently the Australia electorate voted on an important constitutional referendum which would have recognised the indigenous Aboriginal people in the constitution and would have established a separate indigenous Voice to the Parliament.

In order to pass, this amendment required four of the six federal states to vote in favour, as well as a majority of the electorate. In the event every single state voted against, and over 60% of the electorate. It was a humiliating and, to some, surprising result. Some have called it Australia’s Brexit moment.

The problem was not the first part, the question of recognition. That would have passed overwhelmingly. The issue was the setting up of a separate constitutional body based on race. To many ordinary people it looked like discrimination based on race.

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