I bailed on this feature A failed voice referendum will kill hopes of reconciliation form good, about two thirds of the way through but was interested to see that on at least half a dozen occasions Pearson refers to “natives” as opposed to the more common phrase these days of “First Nations”

In fact not one mention of “First Nations”. Rather strange I thought.

This is politics and in politics as in life generally, words are weapons and deliberately chosen and weighed for maximum impact to influence emotions.

The change in language is a subtle shift in tenor and tone on Australia Day deliberately designed and deployed I suspect, to convey an image of a lone aboriginal standing on North Head watching the first fleet sail into the harbour and to therefore evoke a sense of guilt, shame and sympathy in the broader community ahead of the referendum.

Sorry Noel it’s not working.