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Vocal Local join our online debate be

Last week we asked the question: What sports will you be watching at the Masters Games? Here are some of your comments.

I watched the bowls at Edge Hill Bowls Club. It was great to see and hear the camaraderie of these old stayers who had travelled far and wide to take part.

John, Manoora

The swimming was great at the Tobruk Pool. The beautiful and relatively warm weather didn’t put off competitors or spectators. It’s the best time to visit Cairns.

Susan, Edge Hill

2023 GBRMG day one started on Thursday last week with athletes soaking up the local atmosphere but cleared in time for a sensational opening ceremony and party.

Rose, Westcourt other things, a requirement that the government passes legislation that will “determine the composition, functions, powers and procedures” of a body called The Voice. There is no definition, or guidelines, in Chapter (ix) about what The Voice will be, it is entirely up to legislation yet to be written and passed by the Parliament, so how can anybody currently know what it is?

Had Chapter (ix) simply been a recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first Australian Peoples I am sure it would have passed with the same enthusiasm as the 1967 referendum.

Inclusion of “The Voice” is a divisive unnecessary extra.

Bruce Jones, Innisfail

The Voice will create two classes

SEAN McGinn (letters, May 26) has a hard time understanding the blatantly obvious with the pro-

Update your dog’s details

Now’s the time to update your dog registration details with Council to make sure you receive the right rego renewal notice and associated fee.

It’s important for Council to know if: n You have new contact details n If you’ve moved out of or within the Cairns Local Government Area n If your pet has passed away n If your pet has been desexed n If your pet has completed Level 3 Obedience training n If you are eligible for a concession card or aged pensioner discount. posed referendum. The first Voice is the one every voter no matter their ancestry who votes for representatives to both houses of representatives and the Senate.

You can update your details via Council’s website, by email to regadmin@cairns.qld.gov.au or at any Customer Service Centre.

The second Voice is what is proposed for Indigenous Australians through an unelected body of representatives with what can be argued will have power through the High Court over the Parliament to carry out their recommendations.

I do not have any problems with this proposal if it is not enshrined in the Australian Constitution because it can already done and if it does not work changes can be made through the Parliament.

Where as when it is in the Constitution it creates two classes of citizenship with a minority having a second say to the seat of political power which could bring into conflict with the elected representatives decisions (the First Voice).

It will become messy and unworkable if not worded properly in the Constitution.

I’ve listened to retired judges and

I loved watching the cycling in the CBD. The criterium route of 800m circled Abbott St, Florence St, The Esplanade and Minnie St.

There were also track events at the Smith Park Cycledrome at Mooroobool and the road race at Green Hill, Gordonvale. That’s the same route used in the Great Barrier Reef Targa.

Ken, Whitfield

It was fantastic that FNQ Games ambassador Matt Bowen put 30 students from the Trinity Bay State High Rugby Academy of Excellence through their paces with a special NRL clinic and 30 keen squad members got some valuable pointers from Games ambassador and Olympic legend Leisel Jones. Bev, Gordonvale others on the subject who are opposed to this proposal and the total lack of details by the proposers of this change does not fill me with confidence.

These are not spurious claims, they are real concerns that treating the Constitution with the lack of respect as the document that our democracy is based on will lead to greater problems without fixing any.

While Indigenous people may be the descendants of the original inhabitants of this country we all have to live here in the 21st century and we all can with the Constitution as it is now and by recognising that they were the inhabitants that were here when the British arrived here in 1788.

There are real downsides as well as some upsides to all issues including this Voice proposal and time will show where we land.

But rushing a vote to a poorly worded clause in the Constitution is neither prudent or required.

Richard Holme, Edmonton

Improvement works

Draper St, Parramatta Park: Culvert renewal near the Upward St intersection. Temporary road closures. Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach: Public toilet upgrade at Possum Park. Regular toilets are closed, with temporary portable toilets available.

For a full list of works visit Council’s website.

The My Cairns app has been designed to make it easier for residents to

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