Resistance to colonisation has rarely been polite. The senator asked questions Aboriginal people are still waiting – after two centuries – to get the answers to
They didn’t refuse to answer, and some of the questions were designed to derail the effort, such as “Define Aboriginality” when that’s not in the purview of the Australian government (just like define britishness wouldn’t be), the Australian government can only (in a parliamentary setting where the questions were tabled) define Australian, and only do so in legal terms.
The reasonable questions were answered, such as “Would it be a decision making body” the answer being no, it was an advisory body.
But yeah, that the Liberal party wanted to play party politics with the good will and unity of the Australian people and the desire to settle historical and cultural divisions isn’t surprising and isn’t the win you think it is.
It’s just another sign they’re not responsible, and not fit to be in a leadership position that requires unity and good will, not attempts to derail the country by plunging it into culture wars.
They didn’t refuse to answer, and some of the questions were designed to derail the effort, such as “Define Aboriginality” when that’s not in the purview of the Australian government (just like define britishness wouldn’t be), the Australian government can only (in a parliamentary setting where the questions were tabled) define Australian, and only do so in legal terms.
The reasonable questions were answered, such as “Would it be a decision making body” the answer being no, it was an advisory body.
But yeah, that the Liberal party wanted to play party politics with the good will and unity of the Australian people and the desire to settle historical and cultural divisions isn’t surprising and isn’t the win you think it is.
It’s just another sign they’re not responsible, and not fit to be in a leadership position that requires unity and good will, not attempts to derail the country by plunging it into culture wars.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2023/01/10/peter-dutton-letter-indigenous-voice-parliament/