Thread by @EddieSynot

The #UluruStatement sequence is key. A Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution, then a Makarrata Commission for treaty & truth telling. This was settled by the USFH process & should not be re-litigated. Below are some points on why this is key for Voice & Treaty #auspol

Questions have been asked about the advisory only nature of the Voice, implications about its lack of power, and about it ceding Indigenous sovereignty or rights. None of this is correct (has been disproven multiple times) & misunderstands challenges faced #UluruStatement #auspol

Treaty has been the important goal for the Indigenous community for a reason. It remains part of the #UluruStatement for that same reason. But Treaty, because of our local circumstances & history, cannot deliver on the expectations that are attached to it. #auspol

The expectations are legitimate - Indigenous sovereignty, law, land, culture, our rightful place, decision making power, reparations - the pathway to having them enforced and protected however is not so simple. #UluruStatement #auspoll

We are not in a first contact scenario. We are 230 years into a developed relationship from within which we face a cemented Australian legal and political system, of which The Australian Constitution sits at the foundation. #UluruStatement #auspol

This means, despite how much we believe otherwise and can prove otherwise, our relationship & recognition with the Aus state will continue to occur within context of the Aus state & the international legal & political system that is authorised by states. #UluruStatement #auspol

Some will always refuse to accept this because the Aus state is illegitimate. The reality is that's not how legitimacy works, so we need to find a way to enforce our sovereignty & rights. Even UNDRIP occurs within the context of the nation state. #UluruStatement #auspol

This means we're not in an equal, state-to-state rshp. Indigenous ppls (acc to Aus state & intl community) do not have intl legal personality. There is no help from that community other than what exists - i.e. UNDRIP & rshps with other Indigenous ppls etc #UluruStatement #auspol

This brings us back to the Voice before Treaty & expectations around Treaty. Some have said voice is advisory only & won't have power like a veto. Treaty will not deliver that either. Nothing will. Treaty will occur within the context of the Aus state. #UluruStatement #auspol

This means we must influence & change the way the Aus state operates to achieve that result. No Aus Govt is going to enter agreement that cedes their power; the Aus Parliament & Constitution will remain paramount, over Voice & over Treaty. That is a fact. #UluruStatement #auspol

Implementing structural reform first to influence how things are done, to influence parliament, to mount Indigenous political empowerment is key. That is how we impact decision making itself. That is how we ensure meaningful treaty & truth telling next. #UluruStatement #auspol

Treaty cannot do that. If we were to pursue treaty & truth-telling without a Voice, it would remain susceptible to future governments to overturn & override, including tearing up treaties from which we would have no recourse to mobilise influence around #UluruStatement #auspol

The regional dialogues understood this. They spoke of the toll of negotiating with government & others within the current system & pointed to the minimal types of agreements & outcomes we would get from that system without change. #UluruStatement #auspol

So the takeaway is that regardless of what we do the Aus state, constitution & parliament remain paramount. Some will not accept that. It's the fact we must face. Voice enables us to influence & change that system to ensure we can achieve what we want. #UluruStatement #auspol