MICHAEL MANGOLD

The power structures and cultural norms in Australia are heavily influenced by corporatisation and marketing through screen-based communication technologies and strategies. The behavioural data and analytics they produce determine the technology mixes and drive the strategies. Governments at all levels in Australia (federal, state and local council) have legions of researchers and spin doctors to analyse, process and shape public opinion to support their election prospects and hold on power.

Community consultation is an anathema to corporatised politicians and governments because listening, learning and thinking are difficult, applying the DEAD (Decide Educate Announce Defend) decision making principle makes it far easier for them to maintain their dominance of the communication channels and the focus on the content they feed into them.

In the 1960s people raised their voices and took to the streets to draw the attention of the media to social, racial and gender injustices, the trashing of the environment and war mongering. The flower children of the 1960s are now in their 60s and beyond or gone. But savvy kids of today are bringing people power back with charismatic young activists such as Greta Thunberg leading the way.

Traditional ownership of Australia’s lands and seas by past, present and future Indigenous Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders must be acknowledged. These lands and seas always were and always will be theirs. Non-indigenous Australians must learn and accept this lesson if they truly want to understand Country.

Indigenous Australians must also be recognised in the Australian Constitution with the acceptance of The Uluru Statement from the Heart, 26 May 2017.