Certainly one of Australia’s longest-serving prime ministers on Wednesday stated British colonisation was “the luckiest factor that occurred” to his nation, whereas predicting a referendum to offer Indigenous communities a “voice” in nationwide policymaking would fail.

Australia is anticipated to carry a referendum this yr on whether or not to offer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a constitutionally enshrined proper to be consulted by the federal government on legal guidelines that impression them.

However conservative John Howard, who led Australia from 1996 till 2007, stated Australians had been but to be instructed how this is able to result in higher well being, schooling and social outcomes for Indigenous individuals.

In an interview with The Australian newspaper printed Wednesday, Howard stated: “I believe it should go down considerably — that is my sense.”

The 84-year-old stated the main target shouldn’t be on the push for a devoted “voice” for Indigenous Australians.

As an alternative, Australia ought to be “simply speaking about the right way to elevate up Aboriginal individuals, and put them within the mainstream of the neighborhood, discovering out methods of doing it”, he stated.

He dismissed the concept of reparations and treaties, describing the latter as “constitutionally repugnant”.

“I do maintain the view that the luckiest factor that occurred to this nation was being colonised by the British,” he stated.

“Not that they had been excellent by any means, however they had been infinitely extra profitable and beneficent colonisers than different European nations.”

His phrases come as assist for the “sure” marketing campaign stutters within the polls — a Resolve ballot for 9 newspapers a couple of week in the past confirmed the “no” marketing campaign forward with 52 p.c.

Campaigning has additionally turn out to be more and more acrimonious, marred by accusations of misinformation, racism and “Trump-style politics”.

Howard stated: “Should not we simply be sitting down speaking to one another?”

He added: “It should be arduous. It should take a very long time. It should be much less profitable than we want. However why are we doing this to ourselves?”