JohnStoppafarty
Bench
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- 3,380
Section 128 of the constitution sets out the process, it's not negotiable. A bill containing the actual amendments must be passed before a referendum can proceed.
Here is the bill for the voice referendum as passed
"the details" as you put it are not the changes to the constitution, but rather the legislation enabled by the change to the constitution. You, clearly like many fell prey to the misleading tactic of "show us the detail" of the opposition
That is not how shit works.
The whole point is the change to the constitution creates the something that can only change by referendum, the following legislation the change enables can be changed by the parliament at any point in time as the government so choose ( providing of course they can pass it )
For example, the 1967 referendum on counting Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders in the population, and to enable the federal government to make legislation about the same neither specified the details on how or what would happen in the counting, nor did it specify the details on what that legislation might be, or how it might change over the years.
Because there was no real opposition, and no fear mongering about the fact the change didn't "show us the detail" it passed at over 90%.
Would you have voted no, because you don't have the details back in '67?
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.
Is that the former or proposed change?
I fail to see how constitutional change was required for this at all. Actually, no, I fully understand why and hence my point.
I wasn't alive in 67 let alone old enough to vote. I also don't like to play "I know what I would've done) in scenarios that I have not been in before.


