Carlton Supporters Club

My Koori mates, who are feeling battered by this latest assault on their status as the first Australians, would love to know how they can tap into their share.

The only folk who make money out of issues like this are the media outlets that cater to angry old white men.

Does anyone involved in the pre-game activities do it for free?

Why shouldn’t Colin be recompensed for his time and effort?

We’re well past the time when Indigenous Australians were expected to provide services for free or, at worst, for rations.

Mate the small primary school my wife works at enquired about getting a ceremony done at an assembly as part of their First Nation people cultural studies, they got quoted $750 to $1000 which they  couldn't afford.

You have to wonder why an irrelevant flog like Newman has his racist agenda aired on mainstream media.

There are no morals, ethics etc when it comes to making a dollar these days out of any issue or situation with some people.

Both sides claim the high moral ground, neither has it, having swung so far left and right that they meet back in the middle!

On this issue many have been left feeling that change is needed, but not the change that is being offered.

I would have legislated it through Parliament...tested how it works for a couple of years in that format, sorted out any problems and then done the Referendum to make the Constitutional changes if appropriate.

My wife worked in Indigenous employment for over 10 years. She had plenty of contact with First Nations people, and has been involved in many Welcome To Country / Acknowledgment of Country ceremonies. It's not a cynical, money making, empty gesture to many Indigenous people.

First Nations people are damned if they do and damned if they don't. They are the poorest group in Australia, get routinely slagged off for having no entrepreneurial drive, for demanding handouts rather than working for a living, then when they expect a fee for something like this, they are criticised yet again.

Poor form.

Yet @PaulP , the fundamental assertion remains valid even if Newman has hijacked the message in the context of the vote, that is the question should politics and religion be kept out of sport?

Many go to the footy to escape the barrage of the day to day, not be subjected to more of it!

Let's flip this on it's head, I'm not sure who here are religious or not, but would they be happy for the Sunday sermon to become a paid political statement? I suspect not!

You've pivoted away from the question of financial compensation to another set of questions.

We've been discussing both issues not one or the other, it's not really tenable to have a separate thread for each and as uncomfortable as that may be many can't separate them. Many see politicise and monetise as method and motive.

I think it's a fair assertion the concept of "Welcome to Country" has been both politicised and monetised, and the frequency of the event has caused it to be greatly devalued in the eyes of some.

As much as it has influenced modern Australia and VFL/AFL and continues to do so, we don't have a Catafalque ceremony every pre-game, that would be clearly too much, I don't think that perspective is radical or excessive and I'd assert it's the rarity and exclusivity of the occasion that gives it special meaning, and I doubt the RSL charge to conduct it.

Can I ask @ElwoodBlues1, what do you think "it" is?

Many are left wondering what "it" is, the pro-Voice is loud if not louder than the naysayers, that's almost come across as badgering the voters. It feels like an accusation, if you vote no you are racist.

But many still do not know what "it" looks like other than an idea, and that vagueness has played into the naysayers hands!

Maybe legislation is what Albanese wants, and that could explain why he has been so vague.

LP.."It" would be recommendations from a panel of first nations representatives on policies that affect first nations folk.
The mechanics of how it works, how the panel is selected, what powers they have I don't know. The Government would still have over riding authority but I can see the Voice panel getting frustrated if recommendations are constantly over ruled so all the processes to make it operate and satisfy what ever terms of reference it has need to be sorted and tested and that's why I would have trialled it first by legislation and not the referendum.

If approved at the referendum, the following words would be added to the Constitution:

Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

i) there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
ii) the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
iii) the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.