The Voice is Australia’s look in the mirror moment

The Voice provides our nation with a rare opportunity to look at ourselves in the mirror and decide exactly who we are, writes YES23 volunteer Jeremy Lasek

There’s been so much said about The Voice but with several months before we’re expected to vote, there’s still so much more that needs to be said and so much more to be understood.

One of my biggest concerns is that too many people still don’t get just how important this one vote will be for our nation’s future and haven’t taken the time to properly research the issues properly.

Seizing on that lack of knowledge and awareness by so many of us, there are some in the NO camp who seem happy to see the whole thing fail by throwing out confusing, and often totally fabricated information.

The YES and NO cases revealed

In the past week, the Electoral Commission released unedited arguments put forward by both the YES and the NO cases.

The simplistic catch cry from the NO case, aimed at those who can’t be bothered reading up on the value of The Voice is ‘If you don’t know, vote no.’

Sound familiar? It’s not dissimilar to those who spread fear about the potential dangers of the COVID-19 vaccinations when they became available. It’s now been well and truly proven that those vaccinations have saved tens of thousands of Australian lives.

This is a rare moment in our lives

For me, this is one of those rare moments when we should all look at ourselves in the mirror, both as individuals, and as a nation.

It’s a time to decide: what sort of person am I? What sort of nation are we?

What defines our modern Australia in 2023? Not the Australia of early last century when our constitution was created.

What is this vote really about?

This historic referendum vote is about so many things but…

• It isn’t about politics and political point scoring.

• It isn’t about creating two different classes, or two different races, or giving some of us an unfair advantage over the rest.

• It isn’t about putting our faith in some sort of social experiment that hasn’t been tried anywhere else in the world.

In terms we might all understand…

• It’s about human decency…

This is Australia’s standing up on the bus moment, so an elderly person, or someone with a disability, can take a seat.

• It’s about sharing…

Where the school kid who has, gives a half of his/her sandwich or a piece of fruit to the kid who can’t afford to have lunch.

• It’s about doing the right thing…

Where you buy a mate who’s doing it tough a beer because you know he can’t afford those little luxuries in life.

• It’s about that sense of compassion and caring…

Helping out a friend, or a stranger, when they’re down on their luck.

• It’s about passing the ball…

to the person who’s never scored a point or a goal so they can share in your team’s success.

• It’s about a sense of helping those in need…

Stopping to help a fellow motorist when they’ve broken down.

• It’s about sharing your knowledge…

So the kid who’s struggling in class can improve their marks and have the best chance to get ahead in their life.

• It’s about accepting…

as a society, we do better when those who are doing it tough, are given a helping hand.

• It’s about respecting…

we don’t always have the solutions for the problems facing others. In most cases they’ll know best.

• It’s about understanding…

no-one knows everything. We can all learn something from others if we’re willing to open our hearts…and ears…and listen.

• It’s about recognising…

when you can’t fix a problem, despite so many years of trying, it’s probably time to find a different and better solution.

This shouldn’t be about which side wins

When they read out the final result on the night of the referendum it shouldn’t be about winners and losers.

Because after all, if Australians vote YES, we’re all winners. This really would be a defining moment for our nation; just as it was after the 1967 referendum.

If we vote no, however…

The next YES23 Swim Out will be held on 6 August, from 9-11am at North Wollongong Beach. Swimming is not compulsory; coffee and conversations are encouraged. For more information and sign up, click here