John Howard is right about British colonialism in Australia

Almost sixteen years after he lost office and his own parliamentary seat, former Australian Liberal prime minister John Howard is still an influential political figure. Idolised by the right and demonised by the left, when Howard speaks, Australians still take notice.

When Howard spoke to the Australian newspaper to mark his 84th birthday this week, he told home truths as he sees them, in his trademark plain language style. The focus of Howard’s interview was the Australian Labor government’s drive to change the nation’s constitution to give Aborigines a race-based ‘Voice to parliament’.

This would be a representative body of Aborigines, elected by Aborigines, to ‘advise’ the parliament and executive government on legislative and policy matters that may affect their communities. Changing the Australian constitution requires a referendum carried by a majority of four of the six states, as well as a majority of voters.