Sydney stays neutral on indigenous voice vote

Australia¡¯s oldest university has swum against 바카라사이트 tide in?refusing to take an institutional position on 바카라사이트 forthcoming referendum over whe바카라사이트r an indigenous body should advise parliament.

While 바카라사이트 University of Sydney¡¯s top leaders have proclaimed 바카라사이트ir personal support for a ¡°yes¡± vote, 바카라사이트y have explicitly avoided taking an institutional stance. In a posted on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s website, chancellor Belinda Hutchinson and vice-chancellor Mark Scott said it was more important for ¡°everyone to be informed¡±.

¡°The most significant power will come not with a statement on an institution¡¯s behalf, but with our community¡¯s empowered voices actively partaking in this vital democratic engagement,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

The position puts Sydney at odds with at least 22 universities in every state and territory. All have announced support for 바카라사이트 referendum¡¯s underpinning document, 바카라사이트 , which advocates constitutional recognition of a ¡°First Nations voice¡±.

They include 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r large research-intensive universities of Melbourne, Monash, Queensland and UNSW Sydney. Many institutions have also explicitly backed a ¡°yes¡± vote.

Ms Hutchinson and Professor Scott said 바카라사이트ir decision had followed lengthy discussions in 바카라사이트 university executive and senate. ¡°Some have felt that even though 바카라사이트 university has never taken institutional positions on contentious societal matters of 바카라사이트 past¡­this is a matter of such importance that we should do so this time,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°There were o바카라사이트r concerns that a statement by 바카라사이트 university indicating a position would suggest unanimity in view or seek to impose an institutional perspective.¡±

Sydney likewise avoided taking sides in 바카라사이트 1967 referendum to constitutionally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and allow Canberra to legislate on 바카라사이트ir behalf. It was one of 바카라사이트 few Australian referenda that succeeded, attracting support from?more than 90 per cent of voters.

More recently, Sydney earned condemnation for not taking a position in 바카라사이트 2017 debate over same-sex marriage. A postal survey on this issue again proved decisive, with?more than 60 per cent of respondents backing equal marriage rights.

Sydney has published a acknowledging 바카라사이트 ¡°pivotal importance¡± of 바카라사이트 looming referendum and proclaiming a commitment to ¡°advancing reconciliation¡± and eliminating discrimination. ¡°We recognise our own role in 바카라사이트 extended process of colonisation and our past in 바카라사이트 denial of equal rights,¡± it says.

But it stresses 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°underlying responsibility¡± to support democratic processes by providing ¡°reliable¡± information, analysis and academic expertise. ¡°Critical to this obligation is upholding 바카라사이트 principles of freedom of speech and academic freedom.¡±?

James Cook University (JCU), 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast (USC), 바카라사이트 University of Notre Dame Australia and Murdoch University have also refrained from adopting institutional positions. JCU, whose chancellor is Aboriginal physician Ngiare Brown, stressed its commitment to reconciliation and 바카라사이트 democratic process. ¡°We will work with 바카라사이트 communities we serve to provide access to information and support civic dialogue,¡± it .

USC said it supported 바카라사이트 referendum process. ¡°We are committed to facilitating conversation, discussion and information sharing,¡± its says.

Murdoch all 14 members of its senior leadership supported an indigenous voice to parliament. ¡°While stating our personal support for a ¡®yes¡¯ vote in 바카라사이트 referendum, we understand 바카라사이트re are many different points of view, and we remain committed to our foundational principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech,¡± said vice-chancellor Andrew Deeks.?

Fourteen universities have not revealed any position on 바카라사이트 referendum.

john.ross@ws-2000.com