Penny Wong might have been wise to wait for the result of the voice to parliament referendum before appointing an Aboriginal voice to the world. Instead, she jumped the gun by selecting
Justin Mohamed as Australia’s Ambassador for First Nations People.
Other ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls-general are employed to represent all Australians. Mohamed is paid to represent some Australians.
Other diplomatic appointments are made purely on merit. Applications for the position to which Mohamed was appointed in March were restricted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The Ambassador for First Nations People is tasked with the “development and implementation of a First Nations foreign policy”, with specific instruction to conduct “international First Nations dialogues on voice, treaty and truth with like-minded countries”.
The woolly 459-word job description betrays a sense of internal confusion. How exactly will the knowledge of First Nations people Mohamed is presumed to embody help solve “shared challenges such as health security, environmental management and climate change, and gender equality”? In what way are the experiences of Indigenous Australians about these topics “unique”?
More pertinently, the bureaucrats responsible for this mumbo jumbo appear to have given little consideration to the implications of establishing a separate foreign policy for Indigenous Australians.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/first-nations-ambassador-a-voice-fro..."I am excited about the opportunities ahead to embed First Nations voices and knowledge into Australia's foreign policies and trade," Mr Mohamed said.
"I am
looking forward to sitting down and listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country, as
we develop foreign policies that have First Nations People's knowledges, voice and connection to country front and centre."
https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/themes/indigenous-peoples/ambass...You couldn't make up this drivel, they would accuse you af savagely taking the piss.
Sitting down - that seems to be a major Aboriginal action plan across the board.