Monday, April 16, 2007

Mal Brough - ANZAC

There's something about the ANZAC tradition that resonates in the image of Mal Brough, a doomed Government's Minister for Aboriginal[Indigineous] Affairs, setting forth a new vision for a future. Something enticing and intoxicating, perhaps. The nuance of acknowledging a person's country that creates a frission.
In many ways what the debate is now boiling down to is the question of the creation of sustainable institutions. The official "no more ATSIC" line is going to have to give way to the realpolitik of governance in Indigenous institutions. But this quickly leads to questions about the governance of Australia as a whole. Traditional Australians may want to start by questioning the validity of 'state' boundaries.
But, on the other hand, there are no boundaries in the totalitarian world of the twenty first century. Strength lies in openness and honesty. These are, sine qua none, democratic qualities. Consequently, immigrant Australians will always want to extend the metaphor beyond the shores of rectitude.

Is it so unreasonable to suggest that a rewriting of the constitution should start by recognizing the traditional boundaries and homelands of the first Australians and that we should reconsider our tiers of government on that basis? Surely we, Australia, should be the immovable object in the face of the irresistible force of the 21st Century? Is not then the Indigenous land rights movement the ultimate Conservative project???

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