Statements
The Saturday Briefing …
The Uluru statement is a landmark document, one that is the culmination of years of negotiations. Cape York leader Noel Pearson reveals that he began conversations with “constitutional conservatives” years ago to determine the nature of compromises for Aboriginal political representation.
“Some will see the behind-the-scenes negotiations with constitutional conservatives as sinister, writes Karen Middleton. “Others will argue that it is simply sensible pragmatism, that it is better to design a model that will win support than one that won’t and that some of something is better than more of nothing. What is clear is that among indigenous Australians, the Uluru statement has ignited a sense of hope.”
Plus: Paul Bongiorno on how the folly of the government’s reversal on carbon capture, and Mike Seccombe on Quadrant’s slide into deluded extremism.
The Saturday Paper