I don't know if this article is accessible outside of Oz, but this book review of "Killing for Country" by David Marr is certainly worth a read, to gain some understanding of just how The Deep North [Qld] can easily hold the record for the highest NO vote in the recent referendum. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/01/the-hatred-and-greed-of-the-frontier-wars-still-drive-race-politics-today-how-litt "The hatred and greed of the frontier wars still drive race politics today. How little things change. : Rejig the 'no' voice case rhetoric a little and you’ll find echoes of arguments from the 19th century. Behind it all I hear familiar old voices growling." "The records of the Native Police are missing, presumed destroyed, but modern scholars calculate that over the 60 years these Aboriginal troopers led by white officers slaughtered upwards of 40,000 people from the northern rivers of New South Wales all the way to Cape York.[FNQ] Those who still defend the massacres of those years say people were different then. If only that were so...." The vile voices of the 19th century squatters et al still ring out in 2023 in, e.g., the diatribe today from Qld's Police Union's president, Ian Leavers, who warned in Qld's "Courier Mail" rag, that the Treaty and Truth-Telling avenues being discussed State by State in Australia : " ..... "They are effectively offering a free pass to every rapist, domestic violence abuser, habitual home invader and car thief who tells police they identify as Aboriginal,” Leavers wrote..... " I despair for this planet. How the hell are we gonna develop good working relationships with our various Space Brothers (and yes folks, it IS in process), when we still can't cope with other human beings here on earth with a different culture and skin tone to ours ...... Beam Me Up, Scotty.
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