Tasmanian Audit Office’s Post

Will the third time be a charm? Today, 48 years ago, the Parti Québécois was elected. I vividly remember my high school teacher excitedly telling us how our world had just changed. It lost the 1980 referendum on independence (56.56% for the no side, 44.44% for the yes side). Fifteen years later, it lost another referendum (50.58% for the no side, 49.42% for the yes side). With the current government’s poor polling and a resurgent PQ with a dynamic leader who has promised to hold another referendum, political pundits are predicting another unity crisis. Paul Wells: Ready for a referendum? Another vote on Quebec's future wouldn't be like the last two https://lnkd.in/ef9fFBsA Konrad Yakasbuski - Quebec sovereigntists are on a roll. Could Canada be facing another unity crisis? https://lnkd.in/eE4vg7y4 Gerald Butts - The Quebec Secession Crisis Is Coming, and Canada Isn’t Ready; Why sovereigntists see their chance now https://lnkd.in/en4AGXfv The PQ may form the next government and keep its promise to hold another referendum. This will once again challenge the confederation and whoever is the Prime Minister of Canada. Not to mention the uncertainty the business community is allergic to. Would more than 50% vote yes this time to a yet-to-be-formulated question about independence/sovereignty/association/secession/autonomy? Nobody knows. To win, support for independence among young Quebecers would have to increase significantly. Many are in a bad mood. Their concerns focus on the economy, inflation, and immigration. Suppose they can be made to believe they’d have greater autonomy and control over their future in an independent Quebec, and they don’t trust those running things in Ottawa even with the Bloc looking after their interests. In that case, they might just risk it and vote yes.

Survey Shows Monona Community Supports Referendum to Maintain City Services In June 2024, residents in the City of Monona received a survey designed to help municipal leaders determine the best path forward to addressing the city’s budget challenges. Survey results indicate that a clear majority of respondents – at 59 percent – would support a $3 million referendum, increasing funding to ensure the City can maintain the current level of City services. Nearly 1,000 residents responded to the survey, meaning that it is very representative of community perspectives, with a small margin of error of +/- 3.26 percent. Read the full press release at: https://lnkd.in/giBUcWWk July 2024 Community Survey Results: https://lnkd.in/gzCSnTAz

ACCEPT RESPONSIBLITY FOR DEFEAT, DON'T BLAME OTHERS Whilst the emphatic defeat of the Yes option in the 2023 referendum continues to be viewed as disappointing, there needs to be deeper consideration and acknowledgement of the actual reasons why it failed. Yes campaign architect, Pofessor Megan Davis, The Australian, 12/10/24, "Outlaw 'Trumpian lies' : voice leader", in supporting proposed misinformation legislation, in order to protect a future referendum from lies and distortions, incorrectly asserts that this was the only reason for its defeat, and refuses to accept reality. The process for setting up the referendum was flawed from the beginning, with well established guidelines and procedures, either ignored or given minimal consideration. The opportunity to present a bi-partisan and united campaign to support the Yes campaign was denied, when essential and necessary clarification of aspects and specific details about the question were not provided. Rather than the result being viewed as a repudiation of the urgent and necessary actions required to address indigenous disadvantage, it should be accepted and acknowledged that Australians were being asked to take a leap of faith on an open-ended question, lacking in specific detail and clarity, something which 60.6% of Australians were not prepared to do. The referendums defeat is the sole responsiblity of Yes Campaigners and their failure to persuade Australians to support it.

Active enduring mutual recognition Last year, in discussion with my son about the forthcoming Referendum, he made the point that there was a need for a simple, clear, compelling case for voting Yes. That was something that we Yes voters failed to do well. A recent reference to an article by Professor Gabrielle Appleby - see https://lnkd.in/gSQnnHXf - drew my attention to her description - Australia is engaging in an exercise of mutual recognition that offers a respectful relationship forward for all Australians. This, for me, is the essence of the case for changing our Constitution. We desire to establish an active form of mutual recognition - because Australians and Indigenous Australians change, if for no other reason, than through generational change. Hence, a preamble or similar is a static form of recognition that easily becomes a "one off event", a "tick box", a "we've done that now, let's move on" approach. Whereas a "Voice" provides for ongoing recognition and engagement. We desire an enduring form of mutual recognition - because First Nations have existed for over 60,000 years and will keep on existing, and because Australia, despite having existed for only just over 120 years, is most likely to keep on existing. So, an enduring form of mutual recognition is most appropriately incorporated into our Constitution. We desire mutual recognition because First Nations have never ceded their sovereignty and because First Nations were not included in the formation of the Constitution, in that not all Colonies recognised First Nations people and a Terra Nullius view prevailed at that time. The Constitution and our system of government has a colonial heritage which will never disappear. Hence, the need for mutual recognition, of First Nations and of the Nation of Australia. This leads me to ask all No Voters two questions: 1) What form of mutual recognition do you propose if you still hold that a Voice to Parliament is not a suitable form to include in the Constitution? 2) What do you propose as an alternate approach, if you deem that "mutual recognition" is not an appropriate way to proceed?

A Strong K-12 education system is key to community vitality. The School District of Janesville is asking voters to support two important Referendums this November. To make an informed vote, it’s important to understand what’s on the ballot and how these referendums will impact you. The first is a 2-year $14.5 million non-recurring operational referendum. This is a continuation of a referendum approved in 2020 and thus there will be no new tax impact associated with this referendum. The second is a $151.8 million capital referendum to address the facility needs of our schools. The estimated property tax impact of this referendum is $81 per $100,000 of assessed property value. For a $300,000 home that’s $243 per year or $20.25 per month beginning in the 2025-26 school year. To learn more about the referendums, check out this short video https://buff.ly/3BL4Mgm or visit the school districts webpage at https://buff.ly/3Yob6Dy Forward Janesville supports the School District of Janesville referendum asks. To learn more about our support of education, the referendums and what you can do to get involved, visit https://buff.ly/3TPPP2K #KeepKidsLearningFJ #EducationForTheFuture #StrongerCommunities #Janesville #RockCounty

In today's mail ... "I’m excited to share with you today an update on our ongoing campaign to end Canada’s equalization program. We reignited the idea here in Alberta, we pushed for an equalization referendum, and then we won that referendum. It’s now official Alberta government policy to abolish equalization. Since then, we've been working tirelessly to spread the message beyond Alberta. Recently, those efforts took a huge step forward. First, in May, Newfoundland and Labrador launched a legal challenge against the constitutionality of the equalization formula. Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General John Hogan pointed out that a lack of consultation had left the Province no choice but to take legal action. “The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is challenging the current equalization formula as being unconstitutional. When the Government of Canada dismissed our concerns and extended the equalization formula until 2029, we were left with no other alternative except to launch a court challenge.” Next, the Saskatchewan government announced they would be supporting Newfoundland and Labrador’s case. Then, last week, British Columbia Premier David Eby announced that his province would also be supporting Newfoundland and Labrador’s constitutional challenge. That's right - even the NDP in British Columbia are opposed to equalization now! In fact, Eby went a step further and said that BC is considering not only just supporting the existing case, but potentially filing a separate lawsuit of their own. His announcement came during the annual Council of the Federation meetings in Halifax - a gathering of Canada’s 13 premiers: "I will acknowledge it is very hard for British Columbians to be paying into a program right now at a time when they are facing serious cost of living concerns," said Eby. "Every person in every province deserves high quality health care and schools and so on. But that is clearly not what the program is doing anymore," he continued. The equalization program has once again become a flashpoint in federal-provincial relations across the country - tearing a hole in national unity and forcing the provinces to launch legal challenges in an attempt to ease the divide. It's incredibly pleasing to see premiers of all political stripes coming together in opposition to this failed policy. This is proof that our hard work is paying off, and that our strategy is working. For updates and more information ... https://lnkd.in/gXWWwCk8

In the historical context shaped by The Voice referendum, an organisation’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) takes on an even greater significance. The Voice referendum has brought the aspirations and needs of Indigenous Australians to the forefront of the national conversation. As Australia reflects on the outcome of The Voice referendum, there’s an energised call for organisations to embed Indigenous perspectives into their core values. An Acknowledgment of Country becomes particularly resonant in the post-referendum setting, where it’s expected to echo the progress and promises of national reconciliation efforts. Read more about Strengthening Reconciliation Post-The Voice Referendum: RAP and Acknowledgment of Country at https://lnkd.in/g96BXqr7

Today (14 October) is the first anniversary of the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum outcome and MCM takes a moment to reflect on the continued pursuit of First Nations Peoples for justice, recognition, and equality in Australia. Last year’s outcome of the Voice referendum was a poignant reminder of the work still needed to ensure that First Nations Peoples have a constitutional right to self-determination for that which impacts their lives and communities. There have been recommendations since 1983 to specifically include reference to First Nations Peoples in the Australian Constitution. From 2017, the Uluru Statement from the Heart became the primary vehicle for advocacy to bring about tangible change in First Nations communities (https://lnkd.in/gJ4yWQCU). We acknowledge and respect the diversity of views within First Nations Communities on how to bring this about. In this context, MCM remains committed to working towards redressing the disadvantages and systemic racism experienced by many First Nations Peoples and Communities. We will continue to follow the lead of First Nations Peoples and Organisations in fully realising the offer of Truth-telling, Treaty and a Voice from the Uluru Statement in all its forms. We applaud the leadership of First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (https://lnkd.in/d7Bb7sp) for bringing Treaty closer to reality. This anniversary serves as a call to action for all non-First Nations Australians to listen to First Nations voices and contribute to meaningful change.

❗Today is the first day of National Reconciliation Week - and the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. 57 years ago today, more than 90% of those who voted replied ‘yes’ to changing the constitution and removing discriminatory measures against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This outcome meant that Indigenous people were included in the national census and cemented a step-change in attitudes towards inhumane policies and laws. The 1967 Referendum remains a pivotal moment in the ongoing journey toward Reconciliation and recognition of Indigenous rights in Australia. This years' theme, Now More Than Ever, is a powerful call to all Australians to continue this unfinished business. 💪🏾 For many non-Indigenous people, the 1967 Referendum was the start of their Allyship journey, what was the start of yours? #NowMoreThanEver #NationalReconciliationWeek #ReconciliationAustralia #PracticalReconciliation #AllyTraining

Today is a difficult day for many. The outcome of the referendum, while final, does not erase the deep hurt caused by the process itself. The resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continues to inspire me, but it’s important to recognise that their strength should never be used to justify ignoring the harm and division that has surfaced. Moving forward means taking a hard look at the lessons from the referendum and acknowledging the uncomfortable truths it exposed about the Australian nation. Yet, we also must remember that over 6 million Australians cast a vote for equality, inclusion, and a better future by voting ‘Yes.’ This is a reminder that many share the hope for a more just and inclusive Australia. In the powerful words of Professor Megan Davis: This is not about right and left. It’s about right and left foot. Rolling out of bed and putting one in front of the other. Walking alongside all Australians. In a Movement of the Australian People for a Better Future: https://lnkd.in/g4cH7NBp The path ahead requires unity, deep reflection, and a commitment to true reconciliation—one that listens to and honours Indigenous voices. #VoiceReferendum #IndigenousRights #Reconciliation #ReflectAndLearn #AustraliaForAll #InclusionAndJustice Image Credit: Clothing The Gaps email received 14/10/2024.