We want to extend our blessings to all our wonderful readers. God bless you!!! And Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers, including spiritual mothers!!! As we have our service on Saturdays, we already celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday with a wonderful event at our church with worship, communion, an amazing meal with amazing decorations by Norman’s sisters – Colleen, Lilian, Deborah and Joanne. We even had Bible quizzes on mothers and crafts to add some fun to the occasion. Who said church is boring? Not around here!
Israel Events
April 25-26 – In 2023, Yom Haatzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) was from sundown on April 25 to sundown on April 26. The major State Ceremony took place on the eve of Yom Haatzmaut at Mount Herzl, Israel’s National Ceremony in Jerusalem. This event marked the end of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s memorial day, commemorating their fallen.
May 7-28 – 21 Prayers for Israel and Isaiah 62 Fast led by Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer Kansas City. It is estimated that 5 million Christians worldwide are praying for Israel at this time. The judicial crisis in Israel has caused great unrest and division as the government tries to find the right balance between the powers of judiciary and the legislature. Also, Israel is surrounded by hostile states. CLICK HERE to get the 21 prayers.
May 9 to current – Following the death by hunger strike in prison of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader, there have been over 1,000 rockets fired at Israeli citizens killing one woman and injuring others. David’s Sling, Israel’s defence system, is intercepting most missiles. Israel has counteracted by the targeted killing of 6 Palestinian Jihad terrorist leaders (Iran’s proxy). Unfortunately, as they use civilians as human shields, there has been some collateral damage, The ALP Australian government is planning to increase funding to the Palestinian Authority, so Australian taxpayers will be supporting terrorism whether they want to or not.
May 14 – Israel’s independence was declared on May 14, 1948 — the day when David ben Gurion officially read the Proclamation of the Establishment of the State of Israel.. Happy 75th birthday Israel.
May 15 – May 151948, the first day of Israeli Independence and exactly one year after United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) was established,Arab armies invaded Israel and the first Arab-Israeli war began. The fledgling Israel state managed to miraculously win and Arabs have called this Nakba Day. The United Nations will stage a high-level special meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba – the mass displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948. Many forget that the same number of Jews were displaced from Arab lands at the same time. However, Israel gave them a home while the Arab nations rejected the Palestinians to keep the war going.
Prophetic Word & Decree – Hear the Call of the Voice of the Lord and the Call to Gather in Canberra by Ps Norman Miller
Made on 1 April – A prophetic call to gather in Canberra 27-29 July at Lifestream Church for the Church and Cultural Challenges Conference hosted by the Centre for International Reconciliation and Peace and the Tabernacle of David Cairns. It is a call to deep intercession, the harp and bowl ministry and to bring a cultural shift in our nation to Biblical values. Sound the shofar and hear the roar of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. See more on
Don’t miss this amazing conference 27-29 July at Lifestream Christian Fellowship, 152 Langdon Ave, Wanniassa, Canberra. Speakers are Cindy McGarvie, National Director Youth for Christ, Dr Graham McLennan, founder National Alliance of Christian Leaders, Ps Peter Walker, founder Australian Indigenous Christian Ministries, David Jack, an arts and media expert, and by video, former Senator Amanda Stoker. We will start with 4 hours of worship as we seek the Lord for His purposes in strategic prayer for our nation. There is a strong effort to remove the church from the public square and impose worldly values on the church restricting our religious freedom.
We have issues of political correctness, identity politics, and much more. Come and help bring a shift to our nation. Gal 3:28 says: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
Enormous cultural changes challenge our Christian faith. We need strategic prayer, worship, and to give a reason for our faith 1 Peter 3:15. We need the anointing of Isaachar to know the times and seasons and what Israel and the church should do.
We have a prayer group for the conference with Christians from around Australia fortnightly by zoom and amazing revelation is coming forth.
You can register for the conference on Eventbrite and early bird regos expire on 12 June – bit.ly/440qyGA
If you would like to see more on the vision of this conference and generally about the Culture War Against the Church READ
People Pleasers or God Pleasers: the Church and Cultural Challenges by Ps Barbara Miller
Left – Interim Truth-Telling and Treaty Board (ITTB) – Ray Rosendale, Cheryl Buchanan, Aaron Fa’aoso, and Dr Sallyanne Atkinson, Cairns 9.5.23, Right – Barbara Miller and Cheryl Buchanan, Co-chair ITTB Cairns 9.5.23
PATH TO TREATY
Path to Treaty legislation passed in Cairns as the Qld Parliament met in Cairns 9-11 May. It will establish a Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry and a Treaty Institute. Barbara wrote an article for The Spectator which came out today 13 May though it was written the previous week.
Norman and Barbara and other Miller family members and community leaders were invited to a breakfast with the Premier, MPs and the ITTB on 11 May to commemorate the passing of the legislation.
Traditional owner, Seith Fourmile, called out Barbara Miller and a few other key workers for Indigenous advancement including Norman’s father and mother. Co-chair of the ITTB, Cheryl Buchanan, singled out Barbara for having worked as long as Cheryl had – 53 years – for Indigenous advancement. At an earlier ITTB workshop on 9 May, Seith honoured Barbara and Norman, and Cheryl honoured Barbara remembering her as the “young Christian girl” who had stood with them at the tent embassy in Canberra in 1971.
VOICE REFERENDUM
Hardly surprising that The Weekend Australian May 13-14 said on its front page, “Australians will be asked to vote for an Indigenous voice to Parliament and executive government after a Labor-dominated parliamentary committee endorsed Anthony Albanese’s proposed constitutional amendment without change, deepening the political battle over the referendum process.
The Liberals and Nationals – who made up less than a third of the committee members – issued dissenting reports on Friday attacking as insufficient the six-week timeframe given to the inquiry.” They said there should have been a constitutional convention to iron out drafting issues.
Former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott was denied the opportunity to make a verbal submission to the Inquiry until he went to the media and they relented and gave him a grilling over his opposition to the Voice. Ps Norman Miller was similarly denied a hearing though he put his name down to speak before the inquiry hearing in Cairns and waited all day to give evidence. Instead, he put in a written submission which should be publicly available along with all the others. As we know, there have been many legal opinions for and against the Voice with disagreement in the legal fraternity.
Pastors Norman and Barbara were interviewed by Vision Christian Radio on the Voice as Christians are wanting some leadership and advice on this issue. A Canberra intercessor said that 1 Way fm Christian radio in Canberra also covered their interview.
It is unhelpful that one of the Aboriginal designers of the Voice, Marcia Langton, publicly said on there could be an intifada in the western desert of Australia if a yes vote for the referendum did not succeed. (The Australian 3 May). Dr David Adler President of the Australian Jewish Association told Sky News 14 May that antifada is an Arab word and means race-based terrorism.
This is not what we want to see in Australia. There is a debate about whether the Voice would further or set back the cause of reconciliation between First Nations people and the rest of Australia.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 25-27 – Shavuot or Feast of Weeks
May 27 – National Day of Prayer and Fasting – see Canberra Declaration https://canberradeclaration.org.au/
May 27-June 3 – National Reconciliation Week with the theme – Be A Voice for Generations. Ps Norman usually opens proceedings in Cairns with a prayer and we host some activities.
May 28 – Pentecost Sunday, Pastors Norman and Barbara Miller will be speaking by zoom for Ps Jack Yeo, Emmanuel Blessings Christian Centre, Sydney
July 3-4 – Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in Gold Coast with hosts from the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The Israeli Ambassador will then come to Cairns and we are involved along with SCAFI and other Christian ministries that support Israel, in organising this event in our role as the founders of the Centre for International Reconciliation and Peace and the founders of the Indigenous Friends of Israel. https://indigenousfriendsofisrael.org/
July – Also wonderful friends from Malaysia, Pastors Abraham and Joy Tan will be visiting us. Stay posted
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I have been a big supporter of the recognition of First Nations people in the Australian constitution and removal of racism from the constitution since 2012 when the Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution brought out its recommendations.
However, I cannot support the Voice as it currently stands as I believe it will not promote the cause of reconciliation but bring division between First Nations people with each other and with the rest of the nation.
I also believe it will be taking away Australians’ equality before the law in the constitution and introduce race into it making two classes of citizens based on race or ancestry.
Reminiscent of the Yirrkala bark petition, I made a giant boomerang in 2012 with the words No Racism in the Constitution on it and I presented it to then-Speaker the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop at Parliament House Canberra in the company of MPs the Hon. Ken Wyatt and the Hon. Warren Entsch on 27 November 2013.
On the same occasion in 2013, I presented my local member, the Hon. Warren Entsch the Miller Boomerang Petition with 2115 signatures on it that I had gathered at my own expense around the nation and he presented it to parliament. My journey around Australia to gather the first signatures is shown on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a06cqhZfOwI
I continued to gather signatures and presented the rest of the 5,100 signatures to then-speaker the Hon. Tony Smith MP, the Clerk of the House, and the Hon. Warren Entsch MP on 8 February 2016 who presented it to Parliament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LSEErGV1rI
It was basically supporting constitutional recognition and the removal of racism from the Constitution and was based on the recommendation of the Expert Panel. It read: “We therefore ask the House to:
Educate the Australian nation about the need for constitutional change and hold a referendum within two years to:
Remove Section 25 – which says the States can ban people from voting based on their race; • Remove section 51(xxvi) – which can be used to pass laws that discriminate against people based on their race;
Insert a new section 51A – to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to preserve the Australian Government’s ability to pass laws for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
Insert a new section 116A, banning racial discrimination by government; and
Insert a new section 127A, recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were this country’s first tongues, while confirming that English is Australia’s national language.” For more information see https://barbara-miller-books.com/boomerang-petition/
Most Australians, including myself, support the constitutional recognition of First Nations people in the constitution, effective consultation with First Nations people on matters that affect us, and reconciliation.
The referendum question should be split into two propositions – one, the recognition of First Nations people in the constitution, and a second on the Voice. There is still a lack of clarity on the Voice and its possible unintended consequences.
The option of achieving this recognition through a preamble was rejected at the referendum on a republic and would be now by many First Nations people. However, as you can see from the example of the Expert Panel’s recommendations, it can be achieved within the body of the constitution without adding in a Voice.
A legislated Voice is still an option that could be considered by the Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum which reports back on 15 May. Amendments re a constitutional Voice to executive government are likely to be discussed but considering the composition of the Committee, not much change to the Referendum Working Group/Albanese proposal is likely.
I want to see practical solutions on the ground for my people – closing the gap on the serious disadvantage that exists for my people, money spent where it will count and the voices of grassroots First Nations people heard.
I also believe the First Nations Christian Voice needs to be heard in this debate. More articles on the Voice by my wife can be found on the Canberra Declaration blog and on our church website www.reconciliationandpeace.org.
I will also be writing on this subject soon from the perspective of my role as co-founder of the Indigenous Friends of Israel https://indigenousfriendsofisrael.org/
That God’s Voice is heard by Australians including those in power. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice” John 10:27. See God’s Voice Shakes the Desert by Ps Norman Miller, Psalms 29:3,4 & 8 https://youtu.be/60GJRNMzwXw
That the Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation be strengthened and influence decision-making at all levels in our nation including regarding the Voice. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24
That the church will have the anointing of the sons of Isaachar, that is, know and discern the times and the seasons and what the church and nation should do re the Voice (“of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their command” – 1 Chronicles 12:32). Also, that the Spirit that rested on the Lord would rest on Christians: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2
That any deception regarding the Voice be exposed and any underlying plans be revealed. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8 NIV
That the confusion around the Voice be cleared up with sufficient and accurate information so that people are fully informed when they vote for the Voice. “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV
For social cohesion and unity in Australia to be strengthened and that the debate re the Voice will not be divisive and reverse the steps we have made in Australia towards reconciliation. “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3:25 NIV. Also, that it will not divide First Nations people from each other and that First Nations people will be healed from the hurts of history.
That those for and against the Voice would have a robust but civil debate without intimidation and abuse and that people will not be silenced and intimidated from expressing their point of view. “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies” … Philippians 1:28 NLT
That those who are campaigning for the no case will be able to put forward credible alternatives and have similar funding and opportunities to the yes campaign to do so. This would not only include how constitutional recognition of First Nations people could be achieved but also how they can be consulted in a meaningful manner and what wording should be in the referendum the nation will vote on.
For the Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum to reach wise conclusions for the benefit of Australia in a non-partisan way. The coalition are greatly outnumbered on this committee so the chances of any significant change are slim. But we know “history belongs to the intercessors.”
For wisdom for the Australian people as they vote on the referendum between October and December this year. This includes First Nations people on the ground.
For wisdom of all those in positions of influence re the Voice debate – the Referendum Working Group, the Referendum Engagement Group, 1 the Constitutional Expert Group, all MPs and Senators, Premiers, Chief Ministers of the ACT and NT, state and local governments, yes and no campaigners, the media, First Nations organisations, corporations, unions, faith groups, sporting codes, First Nations sportspeople, and community organisations etc.
For more articles on the Voice by the author, check out:
1 The Referendum Engagement Group includes those on the Referendum Working Group as well as additional people from the across the country including representatives from land councils, local governments and community-controlled organisations.
Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous People 1990s
There is much talk in recent years about the recognition of Indigenous people in the Australian constitution as it basically sets out states’ rights and commonwealth rights, Australia being a federation of sovereign states. Indigenous people were left out of the constitution at federation in 1901. With the centenary of federation coming up in 2001, the last decade of the 1990s, looks at two issues, becoming a republic rather than a constitutional monarchy and inserting a preamble to the constitution that will recognize Indigenous people and have some uplifting statements. For example, statements about hope in God, being a democracy, upholding freedom, tolerance, individual dignity, and the rule of law, recognizing those who fought for Australia’s freedom, and the nation-building contribution of immigrants etc.
Prime Minister Howard does not support a republic but supports a preamble and works on it with poet Les Murray and others but the wording is rejected for a number of reasons. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, the National Multicultural Advisory Council, and the Constitutional Centenary Foundation support a preamble. The Mabo decision of 1992 also brings a focus on recognizing Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
Constitutional Convention 1998
The 1998 Constitutional Convention votes to support ‘in principle’ Australia becoming a republic and is to discuss what model of a republic would be put to a referendum. Four working groups are set up, one of which includes ATSIC delegates and resolves that a separate referendum question be put on a new preamble at the same time as the referendum on the republic, and that such a preamble recognize ‘Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as the original inhabitants of Australia who enjoy with all other Australians fundamental human rights’.
Indigenous National Constitutional Convention 1998
In March 1998, ATSIC organizes an Indigenous National Constitutional Convention and agrees on a Constitutional preamble recognizing Indigenous Australians and the fact of their original occupation. (1)
Referendum 1999
On 6th November 1999, a referendum is held on the following: whether Australian voters approve the proposal to establish Australia as a republic and the second change is whether they approve the proposal to insert a preamble in the Constitution. Both proposals are defeated. Why? The republican movement is divided on a model and Indigenous people are not properly consulted as to the wording of the preamble. An actual preamble was not put to the vote.
First Nations Australian leaders are vocal about recognition in the constitution but not many favor the preamble as a vehicle.
Expert Panel on the Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians 2010
Time marches on. The political will for constitutional recognition of First Nations Peoples takes a big hit. The push resumes with Prime Minister John Howard promising on 16th October 2007 to hold a referendum on constitutional recognition. Labor Leader, Kevin Rudd agrees to give it bipartisan support.
However, there are still delays and on 8th November 2010, it is Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s turn to plan a referendum during the term of her government or at the next Federal election. On 23rd December 2010, Gillard appoints an Expert Panel to undertake public consultation throughout 2011. Co-chaired by Professor Patrick Dodson and Mark Leibler AC, it includes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, Professor Marcia Langton AM, the Co-Chairs of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Noel Pearson Founder of Cape York Partnership and MPs including Aboriginal MP Ken Wyatt AM.
The panel delivers its report Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution on 19th January 2012, 45 years on from the landmark 1967 referendum which enabled Indigenous people to be counted in the census and the federal government to make laws for them. It is a surprise to me that there is still racial discrimination in the constitution. The report recommends the removal of Constitution sections 25 and 51(xxvi), and the insertion of new sections 51A, 116A and 127A. The new sections are:
Section 51A Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Recognizing that the continent and its islands now known as Australia were first occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; Acknowledging the continuing relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with their traditional lands and waters; Respecting the continuing cultures, languages and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; Acknowledging the need to secure the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Section 116A Prohibition of racial discrimination
(1) The Commonwealth, a State or a Territory shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color or ethnic or national origin. (2) Subsection (1) does not preclude the making of laws or measures for the purpose of overcoming disadvantage, ameliorating the effects of past discrimination, or protecting the cultures, languages or heritage of any group.
Section 127A Recognition of languages
(1) The national language of the Commonwealth of Australia is English. (2) The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are the original Australian languages, a part of our national heritage.
It proposes that the referendum be preceded by a well-resourced public education and awareness program and have all-party support and that of a majority of state governments. However, the Gillard government drops the ball on a referendum and opts to pass a recognition act instead. Insufficient community awareness and lack of bipartisan support are two reasons they give for deferring the referendum
On 12th March 2013, the federal parliament passes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 which recognizes the Indigenous peoples of Australia and requires the establishment of a committee to advise on a suitable date for a referendum on these proposals. The process is given two years but provision is made to make it self-repealing on the 28th March 2018 when it winds up, no significant action having been taken.
Miller Boomerang Petition 2012-2016
Munganbana Norman Miller frames a petition around the recommendations of the Expert Panel and calls it the Miller Boomerang Petition, reminiscent of the Yirrkala Bark Petition. He travels Australia, with me accompanying him, and gathers, at his own expense, over 5,100 signatures from Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. As well as getting the signatures of the Mayors for Cape York Aboriginal communities, he gathers signatures at the Yabun Festival and Redfern in Sydney, NAIDOC events in Adelaide and Perth, street corners in Cairns and Sydney, and events in Canberra, Brisbane, and the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
Munganbana Norman Miller Presenting His Boomerang Petition to MPs at Parliament House Canberra 27th November 2013 L-R Warren Entsch, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Ken Wyatt photo Geoff Bagnell National Indigenous Times
Norman also makes a giant boomerang with the words “No Discrimination in the Constitution” and gains 360 signatures on the back of it. He presents it to then-Speaker Bronwyn Bishop on 27th November 2013. On 12th December 2013, the Hon Mr. Entsch MP presents Miller’s on- paper petition with 2115 signatures to Parliament.
Norman continues to gather signatures until over 5,100 have been collected and presents them to the Speaker Hon Tony Smith MP in the presence of the Clerk of the House and the Hon Warren Entsch MP on 8th February 2016. Mr. Entsch then presents the petition to the Parliament. (2)
Munganbana Norman Miller and Author Presenting Final Signatures on Petition to the Hon Warren Entsch MP and the Speaker and Clerk of the House at Parliament House Canberra February 2016 photo supplied
Norman receives a lot of press. He tells The Cairns Post on 8th January 2014,
“Miller said the purpose of his campaign, which he will continue, is to prepare people for a yes vote in a referendum to be held on these issues in the term of the current parliament.
My aim has been one of public education, raising community awareness and support, and keeping the issue before government, bolstering its political will in this matter.
While getting signatures for this petition I have met people from all walks of life, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and found that there is little knowledge of this issue on the street and I have been able to discuss the issues and gain broad support.
“I am encouraged,” said Mr. Miller “that this nation has come to the maturity to enable it to make changes to the constitution that will benefit the whole nation. It will also be an act of reconciliation. I have a strong desire to see justice done and I believe that the Australian people, at core, have a belief in a fair go for all.”
I am pleased to assist Norman with research, press releases, and administration in relation to this project to have First Nations people recognized in our constitution and have racial discrimination removed from it.
Recognise Campaign 2012-2017
Barbara with Michael Long at Launch of Journey of Recognition Walk Melbourne 26th May 2013
Also, in response to the Expert Panel, the Gillard government funds Recognise in 2012 which is set up under Reconciliation Australia. Recognise is successful in raising awareness, but as there was no model for it to promote, the government closes Recognise in August 2017.
Reconciliation Australia website notes that in the five years of the Recognise campaign, awareness levels rose from 30% to over 75% of the population. These levels were higher amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents from 60% to 84%. Reconciliation Australia says,
“More than 160 community and corporate organizations partnered with Recognise to support change, and more than 18,000 Australians took part in the Journey to Recognition around the country. The Journey covered more than 38,000 km over a three-year period and held 386 community meetings as it toured across the country.” (3)
Barbara with Prime Minister Tony Abbott at Launch of Journey of Recognition Melbourne 26th May 2013 photo supplied
Norman and I attend the launch of the Journey to Recognition in Melbourne in Reconciliation Week in 2013. Michael Long, famous AFL footballer, leads the walk from Melbourne which tours the nation. I am pictured walking with Michael Long and talking to Prime Minister Tony Abbott in separate photos. I am asking PM Abbott to sign a replica of William Cooper’s 1930’s petition which he does.
Along with Uncle Boydie, Abe Schwarz and David Jack, we present the petition, on the 2014 anniversary of the 1967 referendum, to Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove who presents it to the Queen. It was originally intended for the Queen’s grandfather but the Australian government would not forward it because Australian Aborigines were not legally citizens of Australia.
L-R Abe Schwarz Barbara Miller Alf Turner (Uncle Boydie) Presenting Replica of William Cooper Petition to Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove Canberra, May 2014 photo David Jack
A Joint Select Committee 2013
A Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is established in 2013 to consider the recommendations of the Expert Panel report and delivers its report in June 2015.
Referendum Council 2015
The Referendum Council is jointly appointed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten on 7th December 2015. Its job is to advise on the next steps towards a successful referendum to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the constitution. Co-Chairs are Pat Anderson and Mr. Mark Leibler AC.
The Referendum Council holds twelve Dialogues with Indigenous Australians around Australia between December 2016 and May 2017. They are by invitation only and capped at 100 persons to try to reach consensus. Feedback from these dialogues is given to a First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017.
Uluru Statement from the Heart at First Nations National Constitutional Convention 2017
Uluru, the large red rock in the center of Australia is an iconic image that often symbolizes Indigenous Australia and is a favorite spot for tourists. To the traditional owners, the Anangu, it is a sacred site. Many say it is the sacred heart of Australia. It is to Uluru, in the shadow of the rock, that the Referendum Council takes the First Nations Convention.
While there are sometimes heated discussions over whether sovereignty should be part of the outcome, they reach a consensus, and the lead constitutional lawyer for the process, Professor Megan Davis, reads out what becomes the Uluru Statement from the Heart on 26th May at the end of the Convention. The 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates adopt it. Megan Davis is the first Indigenous Australian to sit on a United Nations (UN) body as Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, a significant achievement. Here is an excerpt from the Uluru Statement:
“… we call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution.
Makarrata (4) is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination.
We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.
In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard …” (5)
So, the Indigenous cry from the heart of Australia is VOICE TREATY TRUTH. Opposition leader Bill Shorten is supportive and commits to implementing it if he wins government.
Norman and I attend a treaty conference in Sydney around Australia Day 2018 and Norman signs the large canvas with the Uluru Statement on it. Thomas Mayor and others travel Australia raising awareness of it and getting the signatures of First Nations people. We also attend the 80th anniversary of the Day of Mourning on Australia Day 2018 at Australia Hall Sydney where the original Day of Mourning was held in 1938 on the 150th anniversary of white settlement.
Munganbana Norman Miller’s Campaign for Voice Treaty Truth Cairns Festival 2019 photo Barbara Miller
Referendum Council Final Report 2017
The Referendum Council releases its Final Report on 30th June 2017 and is supportive of the Uluru Statement recommending:
That a referendum be held to provide in the Australian Constitution for a representative body that gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations a Voice to the Commonwealth Parliament. One of the specific functions of such a body, to be set out in legislation outside the Constitution, should include the function of monitoring the use of the heads of power in section 51 (xxvi) and section 122. The body will recognize the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia.
The second recommendation of the report is a Declaration of Recognition to unify Australians that sit outside the Constitution. This would be enacted by legislation passed by all Australian Parliaments. (6)
The establishment of a Makarrata Commission is outside its terms of reference.
On 26th October 2017, the Turnbull government rejects the voice as a third chamber of Parliament which is a misunderstanding of the proposal. So, the ball which has been kicked along for a number of years without reaching its goal is kicked along again to another Joint Select Committee.
The debate is continuing. Eminent former High Court Chief Justice, Murray Gleeson, who was on the Referendum Council, gives an address at a symposium and The Australian reports his views on 19th July 2019. He declares the voice is advisory and not a third chamber to Parliament and can be created through legislation. Its structure, function and composition can be determined through legislation with the possibility of change. At the same time, there can be minimal change to the constitution to ensure the Voice’s continued existence and essential features.
Joint Select Committee 2018
Senator Pat Dodson and Julian Leeser MP co-chair the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples appointed in March 2018. It presents its final report on 29th November 2018. The first two recommendations are:
In order to achieve a design for The Voice that best suits the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Committee recommends that the Australian Government initiate a process of co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Committee recommends that, following a process of co-design, the Australian Government consider, in a deliberate and timely manner, legislative, executive and constitutional options to establish The Voice.
Indigenous Voice Co-design Process 2019
The Voice proposal languishes until the 18th May 2019 federal election when Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his government will support the Voice but it would be achieved through legislation rather be enshrined in the constitution. Ken Wyatt, elevated to Minister for Indigenous Australians in the Morrison government, the first Aboriginal to hold this position, sets up a Senior Advisory Group (SAG) to progress the co-design of the Voice and hopes to put it to a referendum in this term of Parliament if consensus can be achieved. Many Indigenous proponents of the Voice want it enshrined in the constitution however, so the government can’t abolish it as they did ATSIC, the former national body.
The SAG is co-chaired by Professor Tom Calma AO, Chancellor of the University of Canberra, and Professor Marcia Langton of the University of Melbourne, both Indigenous. There is a subtle change in calling it a ‘voice to government’ rather than a ‘voice to parliament’ “.
The models for the Voice are planned to be developed in two stages: (7)
First, two groups, one local and regional and the other national, will create models aimed at improving local and regional decision-making and identifying how best federal government can record Indigenous peoples’ views and ideas. The groups consist mainly of Indigenous members.
Consultations will be held with Indigenous leaders, communities and stakeholders to refine the models developed in the first stage.
The National Co-design Group is announced on 15th January 2020, to be co-chaired by Dr Donna Odegaard AM and Ray Griggs AO CSC. On 4th March 2020 the Local and Regional Co-Design Group is announced. To be co-chaired by Peter Buckskin and National Indigenous Agency senior official Letitia Hope. The group meet for the first time in Sydney on 19th March 2020.
From the Heart is a group increasing awareness of the Uluru Statement From the Heart. They commission research which is conducted by the CIT Group in June 2020 and shows a majority of Australians support a Voice to Parliament that is constitutionally enshrined and that this support has increased.
Co-design Interim Report 2021
An interim report by the Senior Advisory Group on 9th January 2021 proposes that the government would be obliged to consult the Indigenous Voice to parliament re new legislation relating to race, native title or racial discrimination where it would affect Indigenous Australians. The Voice would not be able to veto the enactment of such laws, or change government policies, however. The Voice would be made up of 16 or 18 members, who would either be elected directly or come from the regional and local Voice bodies. On 9th January 2021 Minister Wyatt announces a second stage of co-design meetings lasting four months with more consultation with Indigenous people. The final report will be ready between June and August 2021. (8)
The University of New South Wales Indigenous Law Centre’s analysis of 1435 public submissions to the co-design found that 82% supported the constitutional enshrinement of a Voice to parliament, while an additional 5% gave in-principle support.
Norman and I are able to attend the Cairns consultation of the co-design team of Marcia Langton, Donna Odegaard, and Mayor of Yarrabah, Ross Andrews, in April 2021 where discussions are robust. Concerns are raised re the Voice being legislated not enshrined in the constitution and Marcia makes the point that generally the feedback around Australia is get what is politically achievable now and build on it later.
State Government Voice and Treaties
However, the state governments are not waiting for the federal government which has been very slow to act. In 2016, Victoria sets up an Aboriginal Treaty Working Group to lead two rounds of community consultations, which leads to the creation of a First Peoples’ Assembly. The role of the assembly will not be to negotiate treaties but will work with the state to develop a treaty framework for negotiations. Victoria also establishes aTreaty Advancement Commission to raise awareness among Victorians and promote a treaty.
In June 2018, the Northern Territory signs a memorandum of understanding with delegates of the four Indigenous land councils to work towards a treaty Mick Dodson AM, the former director of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies at the Australian National University, is appointed NT treaty commissioner and he is currently leading consultations with the Indigenous community.
On 16th July 2019, the Queensland government announces it will begin discussions with Indigenous people about a treaty called Tracks to Treaty. An independent Eminent Panel and Treaty Working Group, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous representatives, spearheads the process with 22 consultation meetings across the state. Norman and I attend the one in Cairns and meet up with my old friend Cheryl Buchanan who is involved with consultations. Norman’s sister Joanne Radke is involved with consultations in SE Queensland.
The Treaty Working Group leads the formal public consultation process and provides a report to the Eminent Panel. There is significant support for a treaty. The recommendations to government in February 2020 are:
The establishment of the First Nations Treaty Institute as an independent body to lead the Path to Treaty process
The facilitation of a process of truth-telling and healing
The building of capacity for First Nations to actively participate in the treaty process
Deepening the understanding and engagement of the wider Queensland community in the Path to Treaty
The adequate resourcing of these actions through the establishment of a First Nations Treaty Future Fund
The placing before Parliament in the first half of 2020 a Bill to further the Path to Treaty, establish the First Nations Treaty Institute and the First Nations Treaty Future Fund.
On 14th February 2021, the Qld government announces a Treaty Advancement Committee with Dr. Jackie Huggins AM and Mick Gooda as co-chairs. They were co-chairs of the Treaty Working Group. They consult with the Cairns community on 29th April. The government’s August 2020 response to the Path to Treaty report includes initiatives in a number of areas towards reconciliation, healing from the wounds of the past, and having a more just relationship. It notes that in 2010, they made an addition to the preamble to the Queensland Constitution to honor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians.
SA to Adopt First Indigenous Voice
On 7th May 2021, South Australia’s Premier Steven Marshall announces plans for his state to be the first cab off the rank for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. It will be chaired by the state’s Aboriginal engagement commissioner Roger Thomas. He will be joined by 12 other Aboriginal members. First Nations South Australians will be able to vote for six of the committee members, with the government to appoint the remaining six. After three years of operation, the SA Electoral Commission will hold a statewide ballot to elect the 12 Voice members. Legislation to establish the Voice is to be introduced into parliament in 2021.
Agreement Making
A number of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) are negotiated between First Nations, government, and corporations under the native title legislation. These can be used as a basis for treaty-making. The most impressive of these is the Noongar agreement in WA. The South West Native Title Settlement, with six Noongar groups, involves around 30,000 Noongar people and covers approximately 200,000 square kilometers. The full details of the South West Native Title Settlement are recorded in six ILUAs.
Impetus to Remove Racial Discrimination from the Constitution Lost
Norman and I are surprised and concerned that recommendations from a number of bodies re removing racial discrimination from the constitution seem to have lost momentum as the debate has moved on to Voice, Treaty and Truth. The Expert Panel, the Boomerang Petition, and the Joint Select Committee agree with the 1988 Constitutional Commission recommendation that s25 be repealed “because it is no longer appropriate to include in the Constitution a provision which contemplates the disqualification of members of a race from voting.” (9)
The 1967 Referendum amends s51 by deleting the words “other than the Aboriginal race in any State,” thereby giving the Commonwealth Government power to make special laws relating to First Nations people. This was a desired outcome by First Nations people at the time because of racist state legislation and policy. This power now underpins much legislation including the Native Title Act 1993. What is problematic is that s51 could be used to support a law that discriminates against First Nations people. There is now general agreement by the 1988 Constitutional Commission, the Expert Panel, the Boomerang Petition, and the Joint Select Committee that it should be amended or repealed and replaced. The Expert Panel recommends the repeal of s51(xxvi) and the inclusion of a new s51A, with this new section outlined earlier.
Martin Hinton, QC, Solicitor-General of South Australia 2008-2016 writes, “The racist taint that ss 25 and 51(xxvi) bring to our Constitution is inextricably linked to our treatment of the First Australians.” (10)
We are still waiting. It is a long haul. Momentum to deal with these issues of racial discrimination in our constitution needs to gather pace.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1998) ATSIC News, May 1998
Consultations will be held with Indigenous leaders, communities and stakeholders to refine the models developed in the first stage. Warren Entsch MP Presents the Boomerang Petition to Parliament on Behalf of Cairns Indigenous Leader Norman Miller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LSEErGV1rI&feature=youtu.be
What on earth could a caterpillar have to do with politics or worship or – wait for it- the Voice?
Dream
On the night of 24 March, I had a strange dream about a caterpillar-like creature that was light blue and see-through and maybe 2ft long and very light that would occasionally somersault and moved around a lot. I couldn’t see any legs. It was kind of floating just above the ground. I say caterpillar because it had a curvy body like waves up and down.
There was an old white woman on my right and somehow her head got attached (sewn on with needle and thread) to both ends of the caterpillar. I don’t know if she was decapitated as I didn’t see her after this happened but there was no blood and her head was shrunk to fit the size of the caterpillar. It seemed to move from left to right even though it had 2 heads.
There was a woman on the other side of the caterpillar whom I could not see but she said she owned it and called it a train, “That’s my train.”
I don’t usually remember dreams but this image is staying with me still many days later. My husband Norman woke me up at one point because I was making a noise. I said I’m OK I’m praying against something. I went straight back to sleep and don’t remember anything about it but I don’t think it was the same dream as the caterpillar. When I woke up in the morning, I remembered the caterpillar dream and all I was getting was that it was a hybrid – part insect part human – not good.
Norman came up with the words train wreck, miscarriage, and two-faced. Also, the caterpillar in the Bible that destroys crops, finances etc. And also, that caterpillars transform into butterflies.
Cartoon re train
I was surprised when I was researching a photo to go with my article about the Voice that I found one (and used it) about a train with Voice written on it that was coming around a corner very fast and about to run over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who was on the rail track. Someone was calling to him to “train coming!” So, is this caterpillar symbolic of the Voice?
Caterpillar Dreaming
Well, as you might imagine, I was reluctant to share this with anyone. However, I did share it with one trusted intercessor and her husband and she said the two women in the dream could be witches. She asked me if there was anything in Aboriginal culture about caterpillars. I immediately said yes, there is a caterpillar dreaming in the Northern Territory.
So, I searched for it on the internet and found that the story is actually around Alice Springs. Interesting considering all the problems that have made headlines recently there re youth crime, alcohol abuse, and family violence. See “Prayer Points for Alice Springs and All Communities Affected by Similar Issues” https://reconciliationandpeace.org/2023/02/reconciliation-newz-buzz-feb-2023-no-2/ and “God’s Voice Shakes the Desert” prophetic word and message by Ps Norman Miller 29.1.23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60GJRNMzwXw
But there was much more. I came across an article about the caterpillar dreaming that said it was the story of three caterpillars and one of them was greenish blue. These caterpillars turn into the hawk moth.. It is a creation story where the caterpillars form the land around Alice Springs. They are decapitated and form the MacDonnell ranges.
The last sentence was very interesting because it quoted a renowned elder of the area, Wenten Rabuntja, whom I knew of when he chaired the Central Land Council, using the word train.
This seemed to be a lot of coincidences – a blue caterpillar, a decapitation and a train.
Emily Gap signboard from Innerscribe website
Yipirinya means caterpillar in Arrernte and the region was created by giant caterpillars. Their creation story begins at Anthwerrke (Emily Gap), just east of Alice Springs in the East McDonnell Ranges. They then travelled west towards Alice Springs creating the topographical features along the way. The story goes:
“But after leaving Ntyarlkarle Tyaneme, they came upon the ilperenye (green beetle men) at Ntaripe (Heavitree Gap). There a great battle took place, with the caterpillars defeated and many beheaded, their bodies now forming parts of the McDonnell Ranges, joined head to tail as travelling caterpillars are seen to do, their decapitations creating the spectacular gorges that cut through the ranges.”
The writers emphasise the inclusiveness of the story,
“Indeed, the Arrernte see this inclusiveness as intrinsic to the Caterpillar Dreaming. The story emphasises that the caterpillars converged on Alice Springs from all directions – north, south, east and west. Mparntwe (Alice Springs) is “everybody’s four corners” a meeting place – where people from all over (indigenous and non-indigenous alike) are “all mixed up together” – a place in which everyone can belong, a melting pot in which all work together in community. As one Arrernte elder expressed it so eloquently:
We got to be like the two train-lines. That train, he cannot run on just one line.” (Wenten Rubuntja)
If you have followed the journey of constitutional recognition, you will know that it has morphed (changed slowly) and then undergone a metamorphosis or transformed significantly over the years just as a caterpillar transforms radically into a butterfly or moth. However, this is seen especially since the meeting at Uluru where it changed from recognition in, and removal of racism from, the constitution to Voice Treaty Truth. It was a seismic shift that all state and territories are moving to implement, not just the federal government.
Blue Caterpillar makes its way into the media
The blue caterpillar or hornworm is also in the Alice in Wonderland story using a hookah to smoke tobacco. He tells her to eat the mushroom so she can magically change her size.
Norman said that he thought there was a usurping spirit behind the Voice. I said yes, I agree, and amazingly, the blue caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland is called Absolem (a similar name for the usurping spirit, Absalom.) https://tvovermind.com/caterpillar-alice-in-wonderland/
I researched the hawk moth and found there is a cartoon where the blue caterpillar uses the strong feelings of people to magically turn them into evil humans in exchange for helping them reach their goals.
Okay, these are all stories -a dreamtime story, a movie and a cartoon. But is there anything else here? Magic is still practiced in central Australia according to Aboriginal pastors.
Trains and songlines
Our church hosted a conference in Parliament House Canberra in 2004, the head of the nation and then in Uluru the heart of the nation in 2005. At a visit to the Institute of Aboriginal and Torrres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra around this time, I was told there is a songline from AIATSIS to Uluru and shown the spot as it was marked. At that time, I was not used to carrying a mobile phone and so I didn’t take a photo and I can’t find a photo now. However, there are prominent projects re songlines and one of them is about a train. There is an Aboriginal song about it as it traverses their country as songlines do. Their website says:
“The Nyamal train song is known as a Japi song, a public song that was composed by Pilbara stockman Mangkayipirti or Larry Brown. It tells of the sights and sounds of the train’s journey through Nyamal country.” https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/singing-train
AIATSIS explains that, “Ancient songlines criss-cross the continent and link people, places, and practice. By singing the songlines, Elders evoke the ancient stories of Country.” https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/marlaloo-songline
There is a big effort in Australia to reactivate the songlines which are worldwide:
“Songlines or Song line in Australia refers to the Earth’s subtle energy currents – known as ley lines in UK, snake lines in India, Dragon lines in China – also related to the Hartmann and Curries lines known well in Germany, geomancy and feng shui.” https://www.spiritsafaris.com/songlines/
Two heads or two-faced
Occasionally we have two heads in nature e.g. in snakes and turtles. It’s generally interpreted as a lack of responsibility and accountability because of undefined authority or boundaries and leads to confusion. I can see this in the Voice and I can see the two heads are the ALP represented by Prime Minister Albanese and the Referendum Working Group.
Interestingly, a “two-headed woman” is a traditional African American term used to describe women gifted with access to the spirit world as well as to the material world.
Wesley’s Revelation 9:19 Bible Commentary
Revelation 9:19 “The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.” NIV)
This commentary says,
“Their riders fight retreating as well as advancing: so that their rear is as terrible as their front.
For their tails are like serpents, having heads — Not like the tails of serpents only. They may be fitly compared to the amphisbena, a kind of serpent, which has a short tail, not unlike a head from which it throws out its poison as if it had two heads.” https://www.godtube.com/bible/revelation/9-19
The amphisbena is an ant-eating serpent from Greek mythology which had two heads.
But what about two-faced? The Cambridge dictionary says, “Someone who is two-faced is not sincere, saying unpleasant things about you to other people while seeming to be pleasant when they are with you.”
If we apply the above to the Voice, there is the potential for deceit, characteristic of the serpent, the potential to be destructive and hurt, and the potential to be insincere and mislead.
Train wreck and miscarriage of justice
One news commentator has since called the proposed referendum on the Voice a train wreck. Is it justice for less than 4% of the population to override or hold to ransom over 96% of the population? As Prime Minister Albanese said, it would be a brave government that would reject the advice of the Voice. (The Australian 3.8.22)
False worship?
Obviously, I was not going to release this without much prayer about it. After all, I have been a supporter of Indigenous rights for 50 years, often at the coalface. But it is the Lord’s Voice that must hold pre-eminence over other voices. I need to be prepared to sacrifice friendships and my good name and my pet theories if that’s what the Lord calls for. So, the rubber hits the road.
As I prayed for confirmation that my dream was from the Lord rather than one that was not relevant, I felt the scripture of Leviticus 14:12 was highlighted to me.
“Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.”
I then got 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Reconciliation May Go Backward Rather Than Forward
Briefly, there have been huge strides towards reconciliation between First Nations and others in our nation. The Voice is liable to take us backwards rather than forwards as it is a divisive process.
Not only that, it has the potential to be very divisive for First Nations people with each other. When the National Native Title Act 1993 came in, many First Nations people saw it as a step forward but it has created huge divisions with Aboriginal groups fighting each other for many years over who has native title to various areas all around Australia.
Politics of Atonement
So, what do we have here? The place for making things right is primarily between us and God but we also need to make it right with those we’ve wronged. Matthew 5:23-24:
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
For those who are trying to make things right with our First Nations or Indigenous people, this is a worthy endeavour. However, if we are not guided by God in how to do it, can we make mistakes? Yes, we can.
I prayed that if the Voice is a guilt offering to make things right and reconcile further with First Nations people, what are we offering or laying down or sacrificing and what is the altar on which we are offering it?
Is it equality of citizenship? Is it our desire to have a society free of racism and discrimination? Is it democracy? Is it our Judeo-Christian heritage? Are we opening the door of parliament and government for an Aboriginal earth religion? And is it the altar of woke or the altar of race?
Is the ancient serpent trying to further take over our government? Let’s face it, the serpent has already made plenty of inroads. Our constitution and government are based on Judeo-Christian values and these are increasingly being challenged.
What is power-sharing like in a democracy? The doctrine of the separation of powers divides the institutions of government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial: the legislature makes the laws; the executive puts the laws into operation; and the judiciary interprets the laws.
If someone or something really wanted to undermine our democracy, how would they do it? Why of course, add a fourth arm just as powerful as the three existing pillars – the Voice with the power to be consulted early by the legislature (parliament) and the executive (ministers and public service) on most matters.
If the Voice is not satisfied that it has been consulted properly or heard with effect, it can challenge the matter in the high court (the judiciary). It will have the constitutional right to do so if the referendum later this year is successful. This is not a modest proposal as Albanese says, but a radical one.
Is there a connection between Uluru and the Caterpillar Dreaming?
The recognition of First Nations people in the constitution has been a long process and I have covered it in my book Secrets and Lies (www.barbara-miller-books.com).
The Uluru Statement from the Heart which has led us to where we are today was made symbolically at Uluru, the heart of the nation on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum which enabled First Nations people to be counted in the census and for the federal government to legislate regarding them.
Did the location of Uluru make a difference? Why did I see a caterpillar if the caterpillar story has no connection to Uluru? What are the dreamtime stories around Uluru?
Norman and I and our Centre for International Reconciliation and Peace hosted a conference at Uluru in 2005 at which First Nations and other Christians came from all over Australia. We were welcomed by traditional owner Bob Randall who spoke at our conference and sang his famous song for us Brown Skin Baby.
Well, we certainly stirred up the witches. Firstly, we had a call from Pastor Noel Mann that there was a group in Brisbane who put a huge advertisement in The Courier Mail maintaining that they were hosting our conference and inviting people to attend a preliminary meeting in Brisbane. We quickly flew to Brisbane and confronted them at the meeting. We also watched the registrations coming in to make sure we didn’t register them.
While we were at Uluru, we had witches stalking the rooms of our worship team. We had hired the Tent of Promise tent and at the conference itself, we had uninvited women dancing like snakes during the worship who had to be removed. It was a full-on battle. After we prayed and took authority over opposing spirits at the base of Uluru, it all stopped so they were probably drawing their power from there. Fortunately, it was an amazingly successful conference and we haven’t had that type of direct confrontation again.
Prayer at the base of Uluru at our 2005 conference – Healing the Land, Healing the People
We went to the base of the rock Uluru and had an amazing time of worship and prayer with many Aboriginal elders and non-Indigenous prayer warriors. As we went to board our buses back to where we were staying, two people took photos of the rock and both reported that night that on their cameras were photos of the rainbow serpent and its eggs leaving the rock. They had not seen it in the natural.
The Lord had been at work! Unfortunately, because of its sacred nature, new agers, the occult, and the local Aboriginal people reinvoke the ancient spirits of the land. So, while amazing ground was taken in the spirit, it is not easy to maintain it.
I studied the local stories before we went to Uluru and spoke about them in a spiritual mapping session at our conference. The creation story of the Anangu people of Uluru is all about snakes.
“There lived two tribes of ancestral spirits. Invited to a grand dinner, they did not show up because they were distracted by the Sleepy Lizard Women. The hosts, in anger, sang evil into the mud sculpture, which thereupon came to life. Then began a massive battle, which resulted in deaths of leaders of both tribes. Due to the amount of bloodshed, and remorse felt by the Earth itself, it rose in grief, becoming Uluru.” https://oursonglines.com/blog/uluru-dreamtime
The rainbow serpent is seen as the main creator spirit in Aboriginal Australia, its creative stories belonging to many tribes. Wanampi is the Anangu Pitjantjatjara word meaning rainbow serpent and they are believed to be dangerous creatures guarding waterholes. Anne Axelby, Flinders University, says in Wanampi: Rainbow Serpent of the Desert that:
“It is said that Wanampi assumes the form of a rainbow when offended. In its rainbow state, the Wanampi is revered by Anangu, but the Wanampi can kill intruders by taking their spirit.”
Conclusion
There does not appear to be any significant relationship between the caterpillar dreaming and the dreamtime stories of Uluru. It is likely to be a coincidence that there are 3 caterpillars at Alice Springs and 3 snakes at Uluru – python, Liru the venomous snake, and Wanampi, the rainbow serpent. However, I think we need to keep in mind the role of the snake in Genesis and the role of the serpent in Revelation. We may think these are just stories but there are spiritual realities behind them.
The Lord has been putting on my heart the words enchantment and bewitched. The church and other faith leaders have come out publicly in support of the Voice:
“The Catholic, Uniting and Anglican churches, the Australian National Council of Imams and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry on Friday will join Australian Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and the National Council of Churches at Barangaroo in Sydney to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart.” Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli told The Oz: “I am personally moved by the deep yearning expressed in the Statement from the Heart, and I am so encouraged that faith leaders have offered a response from the heart of their own spiritual traditions.” https://www.theaustralian.com.au/the-oz/news/aussie-religious-leaders-call-for-an-indigenous-voice-to-parliament/news-story/0f440d4098b87120ef33593ed121ae65
I was led to the verse:
“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” (Galations 3:1 NIV)
I think it’s important that I note that I respect Aboriginal culture and I think that other Australians should also. Nevertheless, we need to discern the difference between respecting it and making an idol of it.
I am reminded that many years ago, an Aboriginal priest from Yarrabah said to me, tapping his chest, “I’m a culture man but the church expects me to give up Aboriginal culture.”
This was a dilemma for him, feeling torn between the two. I said, “It doesn’t matter whether you are black or white, you need to give up those parts of your culture that don’t line up with the word of God and keep those parts that do.”
I gave some examples – loving money more than God, making an idol of sport, or of achieving fame or anything that we give higher allegiance to than God or would offend God. He gave a sigh of relief, saying that he didn’t realise that white people had to examine and give up parts of their culture too.
I do want to also call out syncretism within the church, a matter I will come back to.
A historic vote has just taken place (Wednesday night 22.3.23) to pass the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill in both houses of federal parliament. Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, gave Coalition support after securing some amendments in relation to the referendum on the Voice that will be held between October and December this year. (Cartoon by Independent News)
Whereas governments in the past had funded both the yes and no campaigns for referendums, the Albanese government had been planning to only fund an information campaign that would in essence be pro-voice and were seeking to censor misinformation, which people took to mean, no campaign arguments. They were also only granting tax-deductible gift recipient (DGR) status to the yes campaign. This was discriminatory. That mostly changed this week.
While Dutton was not able to secure funding for a no campaign, representations from the coalition have meant that the government will only be able to fund a neutral civics and education program so that any public funding on activities considered partisan can be legally challenged. Also, the no campaign can now benefit from DGR status.
There have been divisions with the referendum working group the government set up to advise it. These were over whether to include advice to executive government (public service and ministers) as well as parliament. When the Attorney General and Solicitor General raised concerns that including advice to executive government with the referendum working group, they were rejected. While the Solicitor Generals advice has not, and should be, made public, it appears the recommendation was to include “ministers of the crown” and not the public service.
Right up to the last minute, it looked like the Albanese government would end up in a big fight with the referendum working group over the final wording of what would be put to the public in the referendum. However, it was the Prime Minister (PM) himself who had added “executive government” into the wording for the Voice referendum he gave at the Garma Festival. So, despite the possible legal minefield and possible bogging down of government, the PM has agreed to their advice. As the PM has said in the past, it would be a brave government that did not take the advice of the Voice even if it is not a veto.
After cabinet approval, the PM (Albo as he is called) met with some of the 21 members of the Voice for a press conference on 23.3.23 to confirm the wording that would be put to the Australian public on referendum day. The consensus was nearly not there in time but the deadline was Thursday as there would be a final vote in parliament next week on the wording when a constitutional alteration bill will be put to parliament.
Albo was a bit teary as he is staking his political career on the referendum’s success as it will be a big part of his legacy. Albo’s draft amendment was, the Voice “may make representations to parliament and the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.”
The final wording the referendum working group put to cabinet who agreed to it is, “A proposed law: To alter the constitution to recognize the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
On face value, this looks as simple a proposition as Albo keeps maintaining. However, the documentation accompanying it also says, that if it succeeds, the constitution will state that, the “Voice may make representations” to the Parliament and the government “on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
This could mean anything and everything and it will include the public service. The details of the composition, functions and powers of the Voice will be worked out after the vote which means that there is still not the detail that many would like.
Prof Megan Davis of the referendum working group released the nine key design principles that will guide the Voice with details to be worked out after the referendum. The working group will stay in place to advise the government for a long time into the future till the Voice is established. Some of the design principles were in The Australian 23.3.23
That the Voice provides independent advice to the parliament and the government
That it is chosen by First Nations people based on the wishes of local communities
That it is representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
That it’s empowering, community-led, inclusive, respectful, culturally-informed and gender-balanced and includes youth
That the Voice is accountable and transparent and works alongside
existing organisations
The Voice will not have a veto and will not have a program delivery function
Megan Davis and other members of the Uluru Statement of the Heart visited Yarrabah Aboriginal community near Cairns for a meeting on Voice Treaty Truth on 10 April 2022. Why were they there? Because one of the few surviving campaigners of the successful 1967 referendum, Alf Neal, lives there. The 1967 referendum to count Aboriginal people in the constitution and give the federal government the power to legislate for Indigenous people had bipartisan support and was passed with over 90% support. Norman and I were invited to attend by the Mayor of Yarrabah, Ross Andrews and is pictured here with Alf’s son, former mayor Percy Neal.
So, what are the arguments for and against the Voice that people have been discussing?
Arguments for the Voice
There should be constitutional recognition of Australia’s First Nations people. When the constitution was written in 1901, it was about the states coming together to form a commonwealth and so the focus was on delineating states’ rights and powers and commonwealth rights and powers – shared sovereignty if you want to put it that way. The First Peoples of Australia were left out of the constitution and this is a worthy argument to recognize them in it. This is why some commentators are saying that the wording of the referendum vote should be in two parts as there is a lot of support for constitutional recognition but a lot of debate about how to do it.
First Nations people should be consulted on matters affecting them. Few would argue in principle about this. Again, it is about the process.
It is another step towards reconciliation. There have been a number of significant steps in this direction. Albo is saying it would break the hearts of First Nations people for the referendum to fail and set back Indigenous affairs.
Albo is saying that Australians would feel better about themselves if the referendum passes and Australia would look better in the eyes of the world. (See above video)
Launch of the Yes Campaign
The Yes Campaign was launched in Adelaide on 23.2.23 after workshops on strategies. The yes campaign director, Dean Parkin was upbeat. The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest philanthropic body, announced $5m in funding for Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR), which will be the movement’s fundraising and governance body.
Their website, yes23.com.au, provides talking points for the volunteers it will recruit, and provide posters and flyers for the campaign.
The AICR co-chair, Rachel Perkins, well-known filmmaker and daughter of famous activist Charlie Perkins, said the campaign now had “tremendous momentum.”
Before going to the against arguments, I will give a little background on the long journey to recognition which I covered in detail in my book Secrets and Lies: The Shocking Truth of Recent Australian Aboriginal History, A Memoir. See www.barbara-miller-books.com. The big question is how to do that.
Former Prime Minister John Howard wanted Indigenous recognition in the preamble to the constitution but First Nations people rejected this as not enough
There have been a lot of processes over the years. Ps Munganbana Norman Miller campaigned for recognition of Indigenous people and removal of racism from the constitution based on the Expert Panel’s advice. He travelled Australia at his own expense and gathered over 5,000 signatures on a petition on these issues which was presented to federal parliament.
Norman presenting his giant boomerang with over 300 signatures on the back opposing racism in the constitution & supporting Indigenous recognition in the constitution to then speaker Bronwyn Bishop with Warren Entsch MP, Barbara Miller, and former Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt at Parliament House Canberra 27.11.13 Norman presenting his Miller Boomerang Petition with over 5,000 signatures to then speaker of the house with then clerk of the house, Warren Entsch MP, and Barbara Miller at Parliament House Canberra 8.2.16. It opposed racism in the constitution & supported Indigenous recognition in the constitution. It was tabled in Parliament by Entsch
The Uluru Statement from the Heart 40 years after the 1967 referendum came up with Voice Treaty Truth. The game plan had changed, apparently advised by sympathetic constitutional conservatives.
The coalition government was prepared to work towards the Voice but to legislate it not have it enshrined in the constitution, and they continued consultations on how to design the Voice. Out of this came the Calma Langton report on the Indigenous Voice Co-design process.
The Albanese government after winning the election committed to a referendum to enshrine the Voice in the constitution but have been prepared to release little information on it saying that would be worked out after the vote.
What are the opponents of the Voice saying?
Two no campaigns are being led by Sen Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine, both Aboriginal. A group of traditional people from around the Northern Territory who oppose the Voice travelled to Canberra but were not given the courtesy of meeting Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians or the PM on March 22 when discussions were underway at Parliament House. Yet the PM said the Voice was informed from the bottom up not the top down. So here are the arguments:
It will give us a race-based constitution and divide the country by race. Even the word apartheid has come up, and lack of equality of citizenship
First Nations people will be double dipping with 2 “votes” or representations so that though they are only 3.2% of the population, they will have a special say over matters affecting all Australians
However, they won’t be voted in, they will be selected. So, it will not be a democratic process.
There are already 11 First Nations MPs which is higher than their proportion of the population.
There are hundreds of Indigenous organisations and over 80 national organisations with a voice to the government already and have been advising the government for a long time.
There is a Coalition of Peaks consisting of all these national organisations who negotiated with the government the updating of the Closing the Gap initiative. They are an effective voice already.
There have been comments on Sky News re the National Indigenous Australian Agency having in its charter to be a voice to the government and it is very well-funded to do so but we must realize it is really a government department staffed by public servants, many of whom are Indigenous.
Concerns that the Referendum group advising government are an elite or “aristocracy” and they will ensure they are still seated at the table as part of the Voice after the referendum.
The biggest concern is that it may not make any difference to the disadvantage and problems on the ground for First Nations people but only create another bureaucracy that will divert a large amount of money from the real needs of people at Alice Springs and many other places.
There may be legal challenges in the high court and judicial activism over the parliament or government not asking for their advice before making decisions or for not taking it. There have been arguments for and against by legal advisors in the Constitutional Experts Group e.g. Prof Greg Craven and Fr Frank Brennan who both support the Voice but have concerns. Prof Craven is also a member of Uphold and Recognise which seeks to uphold the constitution and recognize Indigenous people.
Also, it could bog down the machinery of government and particularly of publicservants if they have to consult the advice of the Voice on just about everything. This is the reference to Executive Government which the Referendum group would not bend on despite the reported request from the Attorney General and the Solicitor General. It also appears from the statement today that National Cabinet and state governments will not be within the scope of the Voice.
While there is a lot of information on what the Voice could look like e.g. the Langton- Calma report, the Albanese government have not said if they accept any of this report or not. Also, they have given out as little information as possible hoping that people will vote for it because of goodwill. This has led to a lot of confusion however and aloss of support. One example is Peter Dutton’s 15 questions submitted some time ago that have not yet been answered though today’s statement will go somewhat towards answering them. As this was an election tactic of a small target with little information the ALP used successfully to win the election, they seem to hope it will work with the referendum.
It will be a trojan horse because, according to the Uluru Statement which the government accepts, the next step will be treaty or makarrata and truth-telling. There are concerns that demands for sovereignty will lead to Australia being divided into two nations. There are concerns treaties are meant to be between two nations but there are examples overseas of treaties between nations and their Indigenous people.
There is a concern, which is under the surface, that First Nations people will want redress or compensation for lost lands and autonomy etc.
Opposition to the Voice is from both the left and right of Aboriginal leaders. Sen Lidia Thorpe does not want First Nations representation in the “colonizing constitution” and has proclaimed herself one of the leaders of the Blak Sovereignty movement. Those who endorsed the Uluru Statement were hand-picked from meetings around Australiawhich were by invitation only or attended by those in the know. Some sovereignty supporters went to Uluru anyway and walked out because they did not agree with the decisions. They were in the minority.
There has been no public consultation process, no constitutional convention with stakeholders and negotiations have been held in secret.
Albo said from the outset that he didn’t need bipartisan support and there has been little attempt to garner it. Referendums in Australia don’t tend to pass without bipartisan support and rarely do anyway unless they are about minor changes. The Nationals have opposed it and the federal Liberals will probably oppose it in its current form.
Nevertheless, Australia is at a crossroads on this matter of dealing with the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It is a momentous time. However, there is no doubt that this will be a radical alteration to Australia’s constitution with unforeseeable consequences if the yes vote is successful.
