Australian living in the USA here. I don't know how people didn't see this referendum as a Get Out Of Jail free card. Whenever I talk to someone from outside Aus and the conversation turns to Aboriginals, the conversation quickly turns to 2 facts: Interventionist policies (like the Stolen Generation) has robbed them of their culture and, noninterventionist policies have lead to a health crisis where they live 20yrs less than the average Aussie.
It's impossible to find the one that can be defended.
But this could. They get a seat at the table. They say what they want. We do that. Whatever happens, positive or negative, we can say "Well, we did what was advised. We can ask again"
That might sound a bit callous, but the difference between "The government did an action" and "The government followed the recommended action" would alleviate a lot of the criticism that Australia, and I, personally, get.
Canadian here and I was fairly shocked. I thought Australia was miles ahead of our pathetic reconciliation attempts. Like you say, perfect way to get out of jail free.
Join us in the corner wearing the dunce cap, Australia. We get the bigger one since we pretty much gave you guys the whole residential schools idea.😔
New Zealander here. Whatever his private beliefs and their relationship to his party's policies (which would be "moderate" by US standards), he will rely for a majority on the ACT and New Zealand First parties, who are the equivalent of Libertarians and the Freedom Caucus and both want to eliminate trans people from public life.
"Leaders of conservative opposition parties are now criticizing the move, which they say just “divided” the people of Australia. Because that is the big problem, not that people are being super racist."
One thing Australia can probably unite around is racism!
I saw online some posts from those on the left in Australia that they voted no because the referendum doesn't recognize the sovereignty of the native peoples. While I can somewhat understand that argument, seems like keeping them marginalized and voting with the Nazis isn't the way to go.
the only thing that stopped American MAGAts from embracing Kaczynski and PiS the way that they embraced Orban and Fidesz is that Kaczynski and PiS (like all Poles) are anti-Russian and anti-Putin.
One thing to remember about New Zealand is that their federal elections are held every three years. So the new right wing government could be voted out then. It's also going to be a coalition between the National Party and the ACT Party, with perhaps support from New Zealand First. So it's possible it won't last the entire 3 year term, leading to an early election.
Australia was going to be our escape from Gilead. I cannot even imagine the pain, heartbreak, disgust, anger, and every other emotion held in the hearts of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and other Indigenous Peoples.
We aren’t the only ones with a Nazi problem. We just happen to be the one country everyone on the planet should hope never allows them to come into control.
A worldwide rise in fascism hasn't ever caused any problems before, has it? I'm sure everything will be fine. And yay, Poland! It's always nice to get good news from one of my ancestor's homes -- paternal grandmother was born there, and probably would have been raised there, had there not been a bit of a ruckus in the first half of last century.
Hey, don't dismiss prison ships! My local university (and alma mater) was planning on converting one into a floating dorm until the outcry and laughter finally convinced them to look into other solutions that didn't potentially involve norovirus and Legionnaire's disease and whatnot. Imagine the parties, though -- several hundred college freshmen, floating on the bay, feeling invincible and doing the dumb shit for which they are known . . . you just know that the surrounding waters would be a toxic stew of vomit, piss, shit, blood, empty bottle and cans, and the occasional coed. At least tossing your drugs would be easy. When the ship's a-rockin' don't come a-knockin'. But please don't let us capsize!
What a choice on American campuses! A prison ship or a windowless cube farm with minimal doors designed by an amateur architect! What a time to be alive!
Australian living in the USA here. I don't know how people didn't see this referendum as a Get Out Of Jail free card. Whenever I talk to someone from outside Aus and the conversation turns to Aboriginals, the conversation quickly turns to 2 facts: Interventionist policies (like the Stolen Generation) has robbed them of their culture and, noninterventionist policies have lead to a health crisis where they live 20yrs less than the average Aussie.
It's impossible to find the one that can be defended.
But this could. They get a seat at the table. They say what they want. We do that. Whatever happens, positive or negative, we can say "Well, we did what was advised. We can ask again"
That might sound a bit callous, but the difference between "The government did an action" and "The government followed the recommended action" would alleviate a lot of the criticism that Australia, and I, personally, get.
Canadian here and I was fairly shocked. I thought Australia was miles ahead of our pathetic reconciliation attempts. Like you say, perfect way to get out of jail free.
Join us in the corner wearing the dunce cap, Australia. We get the bigger one since we pretty much gave you guys the whole residential schools idea.😔
Far more than a "Hey, you fucked up a lot of people too" argument
New Zealander here. Whatever his private beliefs and their relationship to his party's policies (which would be "moderate" by US standards), he will rely for a majority on the ACT and New Zealand First parties, who are the equivalent of Libertarians and the Freedom Caucus and both want to eliminate trans people from public life.
"Leaders of conservative opposition parties are now criticizing the move, which they say just “divided” the people of Australia. Because that is the big problem, not that people are being super racist."
One thing Australia can probably unite around is racism!
OK, I gotta know...that globe is in Swedish, right? I can barely make out "Sverige," the Swedish word for Sweden.
I’ve heard people say that the far right in New Zealand is still more to the left than American Democrats.
My guess is Rupert's original disinformation media had a part to play in the Australian outcome.
according to our Queensland based daughter, it most definitely did
I saw online some posts from those on the left in Australia that they voted no because the referendum doesn't recognize the sovereignty of the native peoples. While I can somewhat understand that argument, seems like keeping them marginalized and voting with the Nazis isn't the way to go.
the only thing that stopped American MAGAts from embracing Kaczynski and PiS the way that they embraced Orban and Fidesz is that Kaczynski and PiS (like all Poles) are anti-Russian and anti-Putin.
One thing to remember about New Zealand is that their federal elections are held every three years. So the new right wing government could be voted out then. It's also going to be a coalition between the National Party and the ACT Party, with perhaps support from New Zealand First. So it's possible it won't last the entire 3 year term, leading to an early election.
Australia was going to be our escape from Gilead. I cannot even imagine the pain, heartbreak, disgust, anger, and every other emotion held in the hearts of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and other Indigenous Peoples.
“And the rest!”???
The Professor and Mary Ann are not pleased.
We aren’t the only ones with a Nazi problem. We just happen to be the one country everyone on the planet should hope never allows them to come into control.
Ta, Robyn. A decidedly mixed bag.
A worldwide rise in fascism hasn't ever caused any problems before, has it? I'm sure everything will be fine. And yay, Poland! It's always nice to get good news from one of my ancestor's homes -- paternal grandmother was born there, and probably would have been raised there, had there not been a bit of a ruckus in the first half of last century.
Hey, don't dismiss prison ships! My local university (and alma mater) was planning on converting one into a floating dorm until the outcry and laughter finally convinced them to look into other solutions that didn't potentially involve norovirus and Legionnaire's disease and whatnot. Imagine the parties, though -- several hundred college freshmen, floating on the bay, feeling invincible and doing the dumb shit for which they are known . . . you just know that the surrounding waters would be a toxic stew of vomit, piss, shit, blood, empty bottle and cans, and the occasional coed. At least tossing your drugs would be easy. When the ship's a-rockin' don't come a-knockin'. But please don't let us capsize!
What a choice on American campuses! A prison ship or a windowless cube farm with minimal doors designed by an amateur architect! What a time to be alive!
I like getting international news on Wonkette! More of this please!