Why Australians Need To Stop Talking About Reconciliation

When empathy becomes vicious

The 27th May marks the beginning of Reconciliation Week in Australia, something we commemorate annually. This was the date in 1967 when around 91% of Australians voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing the federal government to make laws for the well-being of Aboriginal Australians, something previously left exclusively to the states. It marks a moment of greater integration of Aboriginal Australia into mainstream Australia. It was, in fact, a grand rejection of separatism, and an affirmation of real national inclusion.

It’s remarkable to think that the next national referendum exclusively on Aboriginal Australia was a proposal to politically distinguish Aboriginal people from the rest of Australia and create their own quasi-executive arm in the federal parliament. A return to separatism. Thankfully Australians again did the right thing and voted against the so-called Indigenous Voice to Parliament, albeit at a much-reduced majority of 60%.

For many Australians the impulse to help the minority of Aboriginal people who are suffering in terrible living conditions is powerful. Arguably it is an expression of that natural capacity that the overwhelming number of human beings have – empathy. Australians see their Aboriginal co-nationals struggling and they imagine themselves in the same situation and feel an urge to do something to alleviate the situation. This is partly why many Australians feel that the date of Australia Day must be changed, support a treaty, voted in favour of the so-called Voice to Parliament, and for whom the annual Sorry Day as well as Reconciliation Week has much appeal. They feel sorry for Indigenous Australians and support whatever the most vocal activists claim will alleviate suffering.

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