Donations

The self-acclaimed 'leaders' meet the puppet masters

My observation of the list is it contained novices, no-bodies and the usual suspects who could all be wrapped up in one word - "conservatives" - who are still pushing a White Australia's constitutional reform agenda rather than our First Nation rights agenda to self determination

Noel Pearson Mick Dodson
Noel Pearson and Mick Dodson at Kirribilli House 'Recognition' Summit

40 'leaders' were Captain’s pick, not our pick
Kerry Blackman 8 July 2015

The list of the chosen 40 people to have a "Talk Fest" with Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten in Sydney on Monday has now been revealed.

My observation of the list is it contained novices, no-bodies and the usual suspects who could all be wrapped up in one word - "conservatives" - who are still pushing a White Australia's constitutional reform agenda rather than our First Nation rights agenda to self determination, self governance auspiced by a Treaty.

I have never heard of the novices or no-bodies actual standing up for Aboriginal rights or against human rights violations in this country before. If they have, I ask them to show us their credentials that have enable them to represent our people in any negotiations with the government of the day.

Some of these leaders attend United Nations forums on several occasions throughout the year and one guiding principle of the UN is that as First Nation people you never let your opposition/enemy pick your negotiating team when dealing with them. So do these leaders ever learn anything at the UN or is it just another holiday jaunt for them?

It appears the invitees are all a result of some political horse-trading and eventually the list is signed off under the Captain's pick to ensure they are all conservatives with a minimalist outlook expectation.

Noel Pearson appeared on ABC Lateline and basically called it a "Talk Fest" even though he tried to be as diplomatic as possible.

He said the invitees had the opportunity to go around the track two times … meaning they all had the opportunity to talk twice during the "Talk fest".

The other matter he raised was the agenda was already set by Abbott and Shorten which further highlighted the forum being dubbed a "Talk Fest".


Tony Abbott and his partners in crime, Bill shorten meet Warren Mundine at Kirribilli House

Already cracks are appearing between the heavy weight invitees as Abbott's Indigenous adviser Warren Mundine had a go at Noel Pearson's criticism of minimalists who are advocating a symbolic change to the constitution.

"This idea that it is symbolism is a load of crap," Mundine said on ABC radio.

Pearson fired back saying changes proposed by minimalists such as Mundine are cosmetic Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten met with 40 Indigenous leaders at Kirribilli on surgery – "a symbolic shot at Botox, ignoring the broken foot".

Surely another heavy hitter invitee in Pat Dodson must support the outcomes of a process he oversighted for seven years as Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (1991-1997) and own the final outcome from the Australia's Challenge to "Unite All Australians" report of negotiating a Treaty. Or has the years since softened his resolve to fight for grass roots First Nations people.

Is it now a case of my way or the highway to the true believers from the Yawuru man from Broome?

Mick Dodson
Mick Dodson at Kirribilli House 'Recognition' Summit

Reconciliation Australia's current chair Tom Calma and CEO Justin Mohaned also appeared on the Kirribilli guest list. Quite frankly Reconciliation Australia is past its used by date and appear to be just going through the motions of being lost in a time warp. Basically Reconciliation Australia's time was over when the final report was handed to government.

15 years later the report is still gathering dust on the shelves in Canberra; no white politician or Aboriginal Leader is interested in blowing off the cobwebs and pursuing what is our right in this county.

The 40 Aboriginal invitees would rather accept the crumbs from their master's table rather than the full loaf of Sovereignty/Treaty bread; our inherent rights which we have never ceded.

The soft option it would appear for Abbott's invitees is to support the government agenda even if it meant wearing criticism from their mob.

Can't these invitees see that once they become part of the White Australian Constitution they become part of mainstream Australia which will put an end to any future negotiation on a "Treaty" for our people. There is no such thing as a sovereign nation negotiating with a ‘race of people', who have agreed to be written into their constitution, on a Treaty.

John Howard once said Australia cannot enter into a Treaty with itself! The One Australia policy proclaimed a vision of "one nation and one future". It called for an end to multiculturalism and opposed a Treaty with our mob. All over red rover once the 40 invitees give up our bargaining chip so they can be ‘Recognised' in the constitution.

Furthermore, they don't have the endorsement or mandate from our people to negotiate away anything, especially when they are the Captain's pick not our pick!