Speculations are rife as to the real reasons behind John Howard’s latest backflip – that over the status of the aborigines. For more than a decade he had resisted any kind of reconciliation and refused to provide a formal apology for past atrocities. Recently he even introduced draconian measures to deprive aboriginal communities of some basic rights. Then suddenly yesterday, he declared that the aborigines were deserving of special status in the Australian society and he would initiate a referendum to incorporate that in the Australian Constitution !
Some guessed that he had a true change of heart and perhaps was worried about his legacy in the face of imminent election defeat. Others believed he was pleading to more progressive constituents in his electorate so that he might snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.
There could be another reason. He might be attempting to create fear among his more ignorant constituents. By making a symbolic accommodation with the aborigines he might be indicating that Labor would be doing much more and therefore something to be fear for.
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