Recognition

The regional meetings set up by the Referendum Council have been a farce. The 'Delegates' were hand-picked and without any representative election process. Their selection didn't meet western democratic standards or First Nations' protocols. The aim of these meetings has proven to be what many expected, a total whitewash. Anyone with alternative opinions or ideas were unable to speak or even record the events. However SU Volunteers monitored the proceedings at the Sydney meeting and provide their comprehensive report here. [node:read-more:link]

Report on Sydney Referendum Council's invitation only meeting at Rooty Hill RSL. The Referendum Council's push for constitutional inclusion and 'Recognition' of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is not premised on obtaining the free prior and informed consent of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, whose lives and cultures will be significantly impacted upon. They have engaged a frontline of uninformed, ignorant and disrespectful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public servants, while the white bureaucrats pull strings in the background. [node:read-more:link]

Grassroots Aboriginal people from New South Wales have rejected recognition in the Australian Constitution in favour of Aboriginal Sovereignty, the need for Treaties and for government to enter discussions with First Nations. According to Ghillar, Michael Anderson, the Australian Government is in a quandary over the legality of its sovereignty over Australia. Aboriginal people, on the other hand, are finding it very difficult 'to get out from under' the weight of government oppression which he likened to a German 'Reich' or regime. [node:read-more:link]

It is time to pick up the pace for decolonisation for First Nations Peoples in Australia. We need to break away from Australia's constant lies and deceit in respect to their illegitimacy in this country. ... Our London preparatory meeting is to establish an international framework that will be spread far and wide for those First Nations Peoples who have been impacted upon by the British imperialist expansion from 14th century onwards. "It is time to pick up the pace for decolonisation for First Nations Peoples in Australia. We need to break away from Australia's constant lies and deceit in respect to their illegitimacy in this country." [node:read-more:link]

Australia does not have its own sovereignty. Under its British constitution all governments in Australia are caretakers in occupation and govern for the non-Aboriginal people who call themselves Australians. In point of fact Federal, State and Territory governments govern in right of the Crown of Britain. These are some of the issues that must be negotiated and settled if we are truly to unite on this island continent through Treaty/Treaties and decolonisation, and/or by way of Unilateral Declarations of Independence (UDIs). [node:read-more:link]