Looking forward from the failed referendum on The Voice to Parliament, everyone seems to be talking about how to find some positives after the result. It’s definitely time for a lot of thinking and rethinking. As I digest the result, I’m thinking about what it all means. There's quite a bit to say and it’s definitely time for thoughtful length rather than the slogans and catch phrases we’ve endured over the last few months. Despite the setback, lots of change is still happening. From my personal experience working alongside the community languages activists for some 15 years as they laboured to revive and maintain their First Nations languages there are many specific examples of positive changes. I can't see a failed referendum stopping their work. Their positive and practical spirit had a deep impact on me. These were people building an Australia for the future, drawing on the best parts of the past and overcoming the worst. They were some of the most impressive people I have ever met. I still remain close to many of them and I will remember them to my dying day.
Change at the level of Parliament and the Constitution seems – as has almost always been the case – to be too hard for Australians. The problem is that whenever any change to deal with the complexities of the modern world is proposed, big money is unleashed to protect power and privilege. As Bob Dylan observed ‘money doesn't talk, it swears.’ On top of those who weren't convinced of the merits of the proposal anyway, I suppose the outcome is not that surprising.
Shortage of knowledge and bullshit detectors
Too many Australians didn't have the knowledge of Australian history, of Indigenous communities or of how Government works. More importantly they didn't have enough of the learned critical skills to see through the expensive marketing campaigns, so they ended up marketing victims. It used to be said that Australians had an inbuilt bullshit detector, but that itself is the biggest piece of bullshit I've heard.
Yet, despite this, lots of change is still happening. From my personal experience there are many specific examples of positive change, quite a few which come down to the community languages organisations, at both local level with dual naming, but also nationally through the work of First Languages Australia.
It was their efforts working with the ABC which saw local radio call signs duplicated in the relevant local language. They have had a slow, step by step and unheralded impact working at the coal face of language, building partnerships with civil society organisations and Government agencies. They were instrumental in getting progress on languages added to the Closing the Gap measures.
‘I worked closely with these community activists for over six years in Government and closer to 15 years in all, as they laboured at reviving and maintaining their ancient languages. Their positive and practical spirit had a deep impact on me. These were people building an Australia for the future, drawing on the best parts of the past and overcoming the worst.’
Positive and practical spirit
I worked closely with these
community activists for over six years in Government and closer to 15
years in all, as they laboured at reviving and maintaining their ancient
languages. Their positive and practical spirit had a deep impact on me.
These were people building an Australia for the future, drawing on the
best parts of the past and overcoming the worst. They were some of the
most impressive people I have ever met. I still remain close to many of
them and I will remember them to my dying day. This is a part of the story of the broader impact they have had across Australia, as seen through my eyes:
The hidden universe of Australia's own languages
‘I’ve travelled around much of Australia, by foot, by plane, by train and by bus, but mostly by car. As I travelled across all those kilometres and many decades, I never realised that, without ever knowing, I would be silently crossing from one country into another, while underneath the surface of the landscape flashing past, languages were changing like the colour and shape of the grasses or the trees. The parallel universe of Indigenous languages is unfortunately an unexpected world little-known to most Australians’, The hidden universe of Australia's own languages.
Saving the farm – recognising Indigenous languages part of salvaging community
‘The end of the year – after a bumper 24 months of disasters – is a time of closure. Many things have changed and many more will change – hopefully mainly for the better. In particular people who have made major contributions to Australia creativity and culture are moving on from their roles to take up new interests or interests they have been too busy to pursue. This is particularly the case in the arena of First Nations languages, where the recognition amongst Australians generally of the importance of languages and culture is part and parcel of salvaging community – for everyone’, Saving the farm – recognising Indigenous languages part of salvaging community.
Silencing The Voice
I suspect we may not hear much about The Voice again. We’ll possibly see younger activists step up as older ones step back. I’d expect more direct action and lots more legal challenges, especially in international forums. While The Voice would have been a step forward, it was a very mild proposal. I wonder if the opponents realise the full implications of their victory, it may make it is less likely that Dutton will ever get elected and the defeat will probably channel all energy into more radical and less accommodating directions – and is that a bad thing?
In an article in The Monthly just before the referendum, George Megalogenis argued that there were serious political risks for those pushing loudly for a no vote. In ‘Demographics and the Voice’ he commented ‘The point made repeatedly to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in his private discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and in the solicited and unsolicited advice from Liberal colleagues, was that bipartisanship was in the Coalition’s interests. Opposing the Voice risked further alienating the former Liberal voters who threw out Scott Morrison’s government at the last federal election. They would hold Dutton personally responsible for the failure of the referendum. And those who vote against the Voice won’t necessarily mark their ballot paper for the Liberals ahead of Labor at the next election, due in 2025. “Yes” won’t forget, while “No” will move on.’
‘I wonder if the opponents realise the full implications of their victory, it may make it less likely that Dutton will ever get elected and the defeat will probably channel all energy into more radical and less accommodating directions – and is that a bad thing?’
The article concluded ‘If “Yes” wins, he loses. If “No” wins, he loses anyway,’ is how a senior Liberal put it to me. It says something about the opposition leader that his friends and rivals would seek to convince him on the basis of the raw politics rather than any higher moral purpose. In choosing to campaign against the Voice on behalf of a shrinking part of the electorate, Dutton has risked turning the party of Menzies, which governed Australia for 51 of the past 74 years, into a protest party of permanent opposition.’The article is only for subscribers but you get to read one article free each month – make it this one.
A couple of years ago I was invited to a forum in Brisbane to look at the potential for a strategy based around cultural rights. I wrote about it at the time. Whether it will go anywhere is hard to know but it points towards some potential directions things might move.
Changing the landscape of the future – a new focus on cultural rights
‘The arts and culture sector has spent far too many years pressing the case for why Australian culture is crucial to Australia’s future, without seeming to shift the public policy landscape to any great degree. Perhaps a proposed fresh approach focusing on cultural rights may offer some hope of a breakthrough. What makes this approach so important and so potentially productive is that it starts with broad principles, linked to fundamental issues, such as human rights, which makes it a perfect foundation for the development of sound and well-thought out policies – something that currently we sadly lack’, Changing the landscape of the future – a new focus on cultural rights.
‘Government can cause a lot of damage if it doesn’t know what it is doing. But when it is well-informed and focused, it can change lives and change countries for the better.’
In the lead up to the referendum I commented that there was a reason I would be voting emphatically yes. Many years ago I was at a family birthday party at a football club in Canberra. I looked around at all the people enjoying themselves and I thought this didn’t just happen. Someone – in this case, a family member – made it happen. It struck me that every day, in every community across Australia this sort of thing was happening.
When for many years I used to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members reviving and maintaining their ancient languages I saw the same positive and practical community spirit I saw at that family birthday.
Government can cause a lot of damage
Government can cause a lot of damage if it doesn’t know what it is doing. But when it is well-informed and focused, it can change lives and change countries for the better. Government has hundreds of committees and other bodies set up to advise it – to ensure it doesn’t stray off the rails and ignore people who actually know something about a matter. It helps focus its efforts and make the best use of the money Government spends.
‘All these disparate voices don't even begin to include all those extremely well-paid voices to Parliament and Government – the professional lobbyists and industry associations – that have been heard everywhere in Government forever.’
The Voice to Parliament was different only in the fact that it would take account of the unique nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the original inhabitants of this land. In all other respects it would have been simply an advisory committee to the elected Parliament, which as always makes the decisions about what Government does and how money is spent.
All these disparate voices don't even begin to include all those extremely well-paid voices to Parliament and Government – the professional lobbyists and industry associations – that have been heard everywhere in Government forever. They'll continue to do what they've always done.
For some reason, this reminds me of family memories of World War 2. When I think of history I am really conditioned by the experience of my parent's and other relatives. They all grew up during the Depression and as the demographer Bernard Salt tellingly commented, those who grew up during the Depression were frugal for their whole lives. Even the next generation inherited this habit.
Remembering DresdenFive of my uncles fought in World War 2 – my father, luckily, was too young or I might not be here. One of my uncles was a navigator on the Lancaster bombers that fire bombed Dresden. My mother-in-law was staying with relatives on the outskirts of the city and watched as it burned. The lessons I take from that era was that people whose families may have been on opposite sides of a fence they didn't erect can climb over that fence. The second thing is that in every occupied country – Norway, France, to name just a few – there were people who collaborated with the occupiers and benefited from it. Eventually they had to answer to the judgement of their own people.
Now the Yes vote has failed to get up, Australia has blown its best opportunity to move forward into a positive united future. If Australia can't get its act together on such an important and long-running issue I wonder if there's much point in calling ourselves Australian any more – after all, as the COVID epidemic also showed – we are still just a jumble of disparate states and territories. Perhaps I’ll go back to being a Tasmanian in exile, here in the middle of the island to the North until we finally manage to become a nation for the future.
The whole picture – an arts and cultural policy for everyone and everything
‘After a hiatus of ten long years Australia finally has a new national cultural policy that maps out what the current Albanese Government plans to do in support of Australian culture and creativity. At first glance the new policy appears to be an arts policy, rather than a broader cultural policy, but on closer scrutiny it is connected to far wider initiatives. Part of a series of three articles that consider different aspects of the cultural policy, this second one is about the connection between the policy and broader social and economic features, such as the cultural economy and First Nations economic development. The first one looks at the policy generally and outlines some of the major components it will deliver. The third article looks at the boost to the national collecting institutions which collect and safeguard Australia's cultural heritage,’ The whole picture – an arts and cultural policy for everyone and everything.
‘On a short regional road trip to Victoria, I stumbled across something unexpected – a nod back to my past and a taste of an Australia as old as the hills and, at the same time, as young as tomorrow. At a local food and wine festival I encountered Dark Emu dark lager, a collaboration between renowned author Bruce Pascoe and local brewery, Sailors Grave, which uses the seeds from the native grasses Bruce has been reintroducing after hundreds of years’, As old as the hills and as young as tomorrow - an unexpected insight into a hidden regional Australia.
The island to the North series
Celebrating
the ties between large and small islands, my original island home and
the vast Pacific Ocean that laps and links them.
The island to the North – a nearby foreign country
‘Sitting
by a roaring fire in a wintry pub in Tarraleah I found Tasmanians liked
to call Australia “the island to the North”. We are neighbours but
sometimes I wonder if I am behind enemy lines’, The island to the North – a nearby foreign country.
‘Islands are easily overlooked – Tasmania is an island that periodically disappears off maps, sometimes there, sometimes not, at the edge of consciousness, at the end of space’, The island to the North – disappearing worlds.
The island to the North – turning the map upside down
‘Our geography teacher taught us about the Australian fear of the Yellow Peril, ready to pour down from Asia and inundate the almost empty island to the South’, The island to the North – turning the map upside down.
‘The awkward relationship between Tasmania and the island to the North is not the only clumsy relationship between islands in this part of the world. The history of the ties between the island to the North and the islands of the Pacific is even more troubled.’ The island to the North – the islands to the North East.
‘When Australia finally ceased to be a rabble of competing colonies and instead became a nation comprising a rabble of competing states and territories, it still seemed possible that New Zealand might join the new Federation. Both New Zealand and Tasmania have long been an afterthought for the island to the North. But lots of mountains, clean water, high quality untainted produce, dramatic landscapes and acres of ocean all mark Tasmania as suitable for New Zealandership. It’s a partnership waiting to happen. It’s clear that the future for Tasmania lies with New Zealand, the islands to the East rather than the island to the North. In a form of Federation in reverse, Tasmania should join its neighbouring islands to make New Zealand three islands instead of two – the North Island, the South Island and the West Island. New Tazealand forever’, The island to the North – rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
Why cultural diversity is central to Australia’s future promise – a refocused Labor arts policy?
‘Can
Australia successfully navigate the treacherous and confusing times in
which we live? Understanding the crucial importance of our cultural
diversity to our cultural, social and economic future will be essential.
Applying that in the policies and practices that shape our future at
all levels across Australia can ensure we have a bright, productive and
interesting 21st Century. An important part of this are the political
parties, major and minor, that are increasingly negotiating the
compromises that shape our world. The recent launch by the Labor Party
of a new group, Labor for the Arts, could be an important development.
Combining as it does a focus from an earlier time on both arts and
multiculturalism, it could potentially open the way for some innovative
and forward-thinking policy’, Understanding why cultural diversity is central to Australia’s future promise – a refocused Labor arts policy?
‘The arts and culture sector has spent far too many years pressing the case for why Australian culture is crucial to Australia’s future, without seeming to shift the public policy landscape to any great degree. Perhaps a proposed fresh approach focusing on cultural rights may offer some hope of a breakthrough. What makes this approach so important and so potentially productive is that it starts with broad principles, linked to fundamental issues, such as human rights, which makes it a perfect foundation for the development of sound and well-thought out policies – something that currently we sadly lack’, Changing the landscape of the future – a new focus on cultural rights.
What is art good for? Understanding the value of our arts and culture
‘With arts and cultural support increasingly under pressure, arts and cultural organisations and artists are trying to find ways in their own localities to respond and to help build a popular understanding of the broader social and economic benefits of arts and culture. Much work has been done in Australia and internationally to understand, assess and communicate the broad value of arts and culture. The challenge is to share and to apply what already exists – and to take it further’, What is art good for? Understanding the value of our arts and culture.
‘As the global pandemic has unfolded, I have been struck by how out of touch a large number of Australians are with Australia’s place in the world. Before the pandemic many Australians had become used to travelling overseas regularly – and spending large amounts of money while there – but we seem to think that our interaction with the global world is all about discretionary leisure travel. In contrast, increasingly many Australians were travelling – and living – overseas because their jobs required it. Whether working for multinational companies that have branches in Australia or Australian companies trying to break into global markets, Australian talent often needs to be somewhere else than here to make the most of opportunities for Australia. Not only technology, but even more importantly, talent, will be crucial to the economy of the future’, Flight of the wild geese – Australia’s place in the world of global talent.
Understanding the economy of the future - innovation and its place in the knowledge economy, creative economy, creative industries and cultural economy
‘We are all used to being astounded as we see growing evidence of how widespread contact and trade was across the breadth of the ancient European world and with worlds far beyond. The Romans and the Vikings and many after them all roamed far and wide. This is the stuff of a hundred television documentaries that show just how interconnected the ancient world was. Connection, not isolation, has always been the norm. Seaways were bridges, not barriers – a way to bring people together, not divide them. Now important archaeological work confirms just how widespread that cross-cultural, international network was across the whole of Northern Australia, long before the British arrived’, The Asian Century was underway long before the British arrived.
‘The end of the year – after a bumper 24 months of disasters – is a time of closure. Many things have changed and many more will change – hopefully mainly for the better. In particular people who have made major contributions to Australia creativity and culture are moving on from their roles to take up new interests or interests they have been too busy to pursue. This is particularly the case in the arena of First Nations languages, where the recognition amongst Australians generally of the importance of languages and culture is part and parcel of salvaging community – for everyone’, Saving the farm – recognising Indigenous languages part of salvaging community.
‘Being involved with Australian culture means being involved in one way or another with First Nations arts, culture and languages – it’s such a central and dynamic part of the cultural landscape. First Nations culture has significance for First Nations communities, but it also has powerful implications for Australian culture generally. NAIDOC Week is a central part of that cultural landscape’, Always was, always will be – a welcome long view in NAIDOC week.
History all around us – the long term practical impact of cultural research
‘Cultural research has long term impacts in terms of our developing body of knowledge which stretch far into the future. Researchers are finding stories in our major cultural collections that were never envisaged by those originally assembling them – a process that will continue long into the future. The collections of our major cultural institutions are becoming increasingly accessible to the very people the collections are drawn from and reflect. In the process they are generating greater understanding about some of the major contemporary issues we face’, History all around us – the long term practical impact of cultural research.
The language of success – recognising a great unsung community movement
Unfinished histories – encountering ‘Encounters’
‘A single exhibition can sum up many things. By bringing together so many histories, stories and objects – particularly long-absent ones from the British Museum – the 'Encounters' exhibition at the National Museum presented a snapshot of the ongoing living history of Australia. Many strands ran through it, reflecting the complexity of the realities it tried to express. By successfully reflecting on the pressing issues it raised we have some hope of getting beyond the vision of the Great South Land of 18th and 19th Century ambition towards a truly great nation of the 21st Century’, Unfinished histories – encountering ‘Encounters’.
Literature and languages – inaugural Indigenous literary festival sign of things to come
‘The inaugural Victorian Indigenous literary festival Blak & Bright in February 2016 was a a very important event for Australian cultural life. It aimed to promote and celebrate a diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. It raised important questions about how the movement to revive and maintain Indigenous languages – surely one of the great positive unsung community movements in Australian history – is related to ‘Australian literature’. Australian culture as a whole is also inconceivable without the central role of Indigenous culture – how would Australian literature look seen in the same light?’, Literature and languages – inaugural Indigenous literary festival sign of things to come.
When universes collide – ‘Encounters’ exhibition at National Museum of Australia
‘The Encounters exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, a once in a lifetime event, makes you realise that astoundingly all this earth-shattering history happened only a few generations ago, so much so that descendants of the Gweagal, those first people Cook encountered, still talk about that encounter in 1770 as though it was yesterday. Despite the continuing concerns about the vast holdings of mostly looted cultural artefacts, the return of these objects, however briefly, will serve to emphasise how recently the British came to Australia, how much more we need to do to be fully at home in this country and how much part of a living, contemporary tradition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are’, When universes collide – Encounters exhibition at National Museum of Australia.
The Magna Carta – still a work in progress
‘You don’t have to be part of ‘Indigenous affairs’ in Australia to find yourself involved. You can’t even begin to think of being part of support for Australian arts and culture without encountering and interacting with Indigenous culture and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals who make it and live it.’ The Magna Carta – still a work in progress.
‘If you are convinced you have heard all of Australia’s great stories, think again. If you consider you know something about Indigenous Australia you probably need to start from scratch. Black Diggers, “the untold story of WW1’s black diggers remembered” is a great Australian story. Why over a thousand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians left their communities in remote Australia or our regional cities or the big state capitals to travel overseas to fight and die in the European trenches far from home is part of a larger Australian story. Why they would bother when they were not even recognised as Australian citizens in their own land is a story all their own – but a story relevant to every Australian’, Black diggers - telling war stories.
Real jobs in an unreal world
'Subsidised Indigenous arts and cultural jobs are real jobs with career paths that deliver genuine skills and employment capability.' Real jobs in an unreal world.
Like a long-lost masterpiece
‘Many decades ago when I was much younger and a student I used to march in National Aboriginal Day Observance Committee marches. They were shorthanded to NADOC marches, back in the days when Islanders hadn’t yet been included and there was no ‘I’ in the name. I realised a while back that I must have been marching under the new Aboriginal flag at its birth. I had a poster from those years which I used to cart around with me from city to city until one day when I was about to move yet again I decided to donate it to the National Library of Australia’, Like a long-lost masterpiece.
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