Your vote will decide who leads our country

By Senator Dorinda Cox

Australian Greens Senator for WA

In the lead up to the Federal election day tomorrow, the Coalition continues to fan the flames of the Voice to Parliament referendum.

With the backdrop of 60 per cent of Australians voting NO to the concept of a voice being enshrined in the nation’s constitution, the Coalition led by Peter Dutton are insisting this is their pathway to Federal Government.

The First Peoples of this country, requested only two things – recognition as the Indigenous peoples to be included in the constitution and for the establishment of an independent advisory board – aka the Voice to advise the Parliament.

Both were rejected, but they did not include truth telling or treaty processes, they were simply only those two questions on the ballot. So now we see the Coalition ramp up their attacks on First Nations peoples cultural protocols and ceremonies, belief systems and cultural heritage.

Senator Price has revealed just yesterday, the abolishment of the laws governing First Nations cultural heritage. The laws which have already allowed so much destruction of lands, waters, totems, languages, art and intangible cultural heritage such as dreaming stories.

Even though she’s happy to talk about her tjukupa (dreaming story) and insists on being addressed by her fire dreaming name Nampajinpa – the hypocrisy of this is just astounding.

To clear the misinformation and hate being spread, by Coalition members and peddled by right wing media outlets, a welcome and acknowledgement of the country are not about welcoming you to Australia.

At the heart of these ancient rituals is deep respect – one that is offered in kindness and peace. For safety and a cultural blessing as you travel on the lands which our ancestors lived and cared and held connection to for 65,000 years. We are still working to ensure everyone understands the important story that this land was occupied pre 1788 as we have failed to do in past generations.

This is not made up or concocted for financial gain; it’s the responsibility of the traditional custodian, agreed and invited to deliver this by the organisers of events. To level this to diminish its significance and its precious message, means there is no reciprocating from one of the parties who seek to destroy or harm people on the lands of those who have maintained and cared for.

Cue Dutton and et al and their free falling federal election campaign, all they have left in the final days is to punch down on the most vulnerable and marginalised people of this country, it’s embarrassing and disgusting.

We checked him ages ago the guy who walked out on the Stolen Generations apology and talks about removing our flags as national emblems and leading a campaign to silence our voicesand not to recognise our existence in the constitution or via a treaty are directly out of the dirty far right think tanks they swamp to in their parliamentary breaks overseas.

Australia, we are better than this small minded and divisive game, we are a better nation for embracing diversity and recognising our origins. It costs you nothing more than to sit through an acknowledgement or welcome silently so we can achieve First Nations Justice in our nation, a process grounded in healing, peace and humility.

Your vote is powerful and this weekend you will decide who leads it, a culmination of progressive independents and minor parties who are capable of taking us forward into the future or Dutton and his failed Coalition who are trying to get “back on track” our race relations that wreaks of the White Australia policy from the early 1900s.

Senator Dorinda Cox · Australian Greens Senator for WA