The Yes/No case has long been flawed and the government is right to dispense with it. But it will need to replace it with something else to counter misinformation – and do so with great care.
Of 44 referendums put to the Australian people since federation, only eight have passed – but those championing a First Nations Voice to Parliament need not be deterred.
While advice to ‘prorogue’ or halt a term of government is controversial, it remains appropriate to prevent a vote of no confidence while by-elections are pending.
Everyone from human rights experts to famous cricketers are expressing their disgust at the federal government’s India travel ban. Its legality depends on what laws you are looking at.
As a “Voice” that would allow Indigenous Australians to have a say in parliamentary and government decisions that affect them takes shape, it is vital it be enshrined in our Constitution.
The mission of Voice. Treaty. Truth in the Uluru Statement represents very carefully sequenced reforms. A proper understanding of these should guide any constitutional changes.
There are many questions regarding The Dismissal that can still be debated. But the queen simply advised the governor-general to follow the constitution, which is as she should have done.
After a long court battle, Australians are finally about to learn more about one of the most pivotal episodes in our political and constitutional history.
There are many ideas on how Indigenous recognition can be achieved in line with the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We need to keep exploring them until we find one that will work.
The answer is in the reason for re-opening only to some parts of the country. And our constitution allows states a bit of leeway to decide what is in their citizens’ best interests.
The Indigenous Constitutional Voice has been miscast by mischievous politicians as quasi-separatism. Australians were frightened by the inference it was not just illiberal, but un-Australian.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University