2/08/2023
A main point of contention about the Voice seems to be (in the eyes of the Naysayers) that the logical extension of the current Voice proposal is the promulgation of a Treaty between First Nations People and others in our society. I am yet to be convinced that this is the case but let us look at what the issue is anyway.
The Magna Carta is recognised as having had a significant influence on Human Rights in Australia. In fact the Australian Human Rights Commission states the following on its website: “Magna Carta has had an enduring legacy that has shaped the human rights and freedoms that all Australians enjoy today. In particular, Magna Carta advanced ideas of freedom, justice and the rule of law, principles which have become enshrined in our democracy”.
The genesis of the Magna Carta was the creation of a Treaty between King John and the various Barons. The purpose of that treaty was to minimise the power of the King and his Barons. When drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury it was designed to bring about a peace between the warring parties.
Therefore, if the governing document of English democracy and the document that has “an enduring legacy that has shaped” our human rights was predicated on a treaty to create peace, why would a treaty conjure up these feelings of dread in the hearts of the Naysayers against our Voice proposal?
Suresh Rajan
