As the third-generation progeny of settlers who came to Australia and settled on the then-dry plains of the Riverina from Scotland, England, and Ireland, I believe I have both a practical understanding and passionate love of the land beneath my feet as anyone with whom I share this abundant land. While successfully making a living for my family, I was schooled in the adaptive skills required to survive in this land of ‘droughts and flooding rains’. While our land is abundant, she can be a ruthless teacher and successful and continuing settlement requires constant adaption.

I have now witnessed hundreds of others from most tribes on Earth follow this course and with personal courage, the assistance of neighbours, and by the grace of God, they have succeeded. All have appreciated the freedom given by our egalitarian and democratic society. Mateship is something that quickly inspires friendship and assists those who may be struggling. These are the earthy attributes based on human dignity that have made us what we are. We are a people who seek out truth as the basis for our actions and implement them with moral decency.

This course of action has fostered the growth of a robust society based on a fair go for all who have the will to have a go. Adaption and resourcefulness have shaped both man and State and stamped our mettle strong. This common cause has made our nation great and imbued us with a sense of national pride. We have, as a nation and as individuals, basked in the glow of success generated by our actions.

That is until recently when Australians were lambasted by a strident minority claiming a lack of representation. A lack of respect. Lack of income. And a lack of rights that other citizens do not have.

In fact, it seems to this Old Bushy that this vocal minority will not be happy until they have ‘cradle to grave’ support from other hard-working Australians. That means acquiring support for all their needs from others who are proudly supporting themselves.

This aim has been dressed up in something called ‘The Voice’ which, if these mendicants have their way, will be enshrined in our Constitution. This only raises multiple questions, one of which is, why should a small percentage of our population have advantages no other group in Australia has or expects? Why should this small but vocal group have more than one person and one vote? It has not been explained to my satisfaction.

The hypocrisy of the Voice position should be apparent to most citizens who witness the billions being spent on remote Indigenous communities. Rather than being disadvantaged, many go from ‘cradle to the grave’ being supported by taxpayers. The welfare state has created a class of mendicants in a nation of abundant opportunity. That Australia has people living entirely within the welfare system, in any part of this great nation, is as much the fault of bureaucratic ineptitude as it is of a reluctance to be self-supporting.

It does not matter how The Voice is presented; it will never successfully tackle Aboriginal disadvantage. This must be addressed chiefly by individuals accepting that they are first and foremost citizens of Australia. In many ways, they enjoy the privilege of taxpayer support that is not available to others who experience just as much disadvantage but also have no voice.

All our futures will be brighter as a united people and much poorer divided by something as vague and unnecessary as The Voice.