And since this proposal presupposes an inherent difference between Aboriginal Australians and non-Aboriginal Australians, at a philosophical level the Voice proposal is inherently illiberal, divisive and inequitable. However, according to Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, such proposal will effectively “divide Australia along racial lines, entrench indigenous separatism, and constitutionally enshrine the idea that Aboriginal people are perpetual victims forever in the need of special measures”. The elites are presently pushing the argument that the Voice will do no more than provide advice to government on matters affecting the Aboriginal community. Essentially, her illiberal view is a backward-looking consideration that fails to consider the long-term future of Australia’s representative democracy. But she fails to explain how it is possible to correct past discrimination by ultimately condoning the introduction of a divisive system that will permanently violate the equal treatment of all citizens in the future. In other words, in matters of law equality must be prioritised and discrimination minimised.įor Morris, however, reliance on the liberal principle of equality is “rich, given the history of unequal treatment suffered by Indigenous people.” Her emotive and passionate plea for the Voice condones a violation of the democratic ideal of ‘equal citizenship’ so as to atone for the alleged systemic violations of the principle of political equality in the past. This important principle of classical liberalism is based on the idea that everyone should be treated equally before the law, regardless of factors such as gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. The “central tenet of liberalism” that Morris so much decries is, presumably, the principle of political equality – the principle that burdens and benefits should never be distributed on the ground of a person’s race. For example, Ms Morris excoriates her opponents for claiming the proposed entrenchment of the Voice in the Constitution repudiates “a central tenet of liberalism-the idea that we should be treated equally.” For her, this claim presents “an ideological and unrealistic conception of liberal democracy.”
Her piece deserves a reply, not because of the cogency of her arguments - there are virtually none - but because it is replete with gross misconceptions and wide, sweeping claims. It is an emotive, but groundless, exhortation to vote “Yes” in the upcoming Voice referendum. On May 2, 2023, The Epoch Times published an opinion piece entitled Yes Is for Bringing Australia Together and Moving Forward and authored by Shireen Morris.
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