Defeated at the polls, the Albanese government, according to Linda Burney, is actively seeking to implement what might be called Voice-Lite via local and regional bodies. Australians who voted 'No' are entitled to feel scammed, but not Canberra's eager bureaucracy

In one of Australia’s greatest but typical electoral misreadings, Marcia Langton threatened a ban on welcome-to-country ceremonies -- and, just to sweeten the deal, a ban on her own conference appearances. At that moment, it is reasonable to suspect, the No vote against the Voice increased exponentially in all states and territories

When Aboriginal activists deny the legitimacy of the Australian nation state, it is not merely a declaration of independence from the constitutional structure of our country but a vehement denial that it has any valid authority over anyone, be they black, white or brindle. Into such an ideology the urge to violence flows like water down a drain

You might almost call it the very essence of consensus, the way Australia's peak scientific and research organisations went all-out to back the Yes case, most advancing their cause with nebulous arguments distilled from torrents of misleading assertions and feel-good cliches. As you might expect, defeat has prompted an eruption of pique and disgust directed at fellow Australians

Corporate directors as individuals had every right to advocate a 'Yes' vote, but in authorising the allocation of funds to support the Voice it may be argued that they breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. Should they be required to reimburse their companies for the money squandered on what 61% of Australians rejected? It's a question to be raised at any number of AGMs

Voice advocates, modestly declining to provide their names, have released a splenetic letter accusing fellow Australians of racist cruelty. They need not be so upset. The Welcome to Country set pieces will remain, flags representing some and not others will still fly and the renaming of cities will continue -- if, that is, those who voted 'No' lapse into unfussed complacency

Mention indigenous crime and watch the Left boomerang it back as an indictment of the general society. The violence, truancy and small children infected with sexually transmitted diseases, well it's all white Australia's fault. Were Voice advocates capable self-reflection -- a dubious notion, admittedly -- they would recognise in themselves an abhorrent and racist paternalism

You could almost feel sorry for Anthony Albanese, despite all the time and money wasted, the rancour and division in pursuit of a very bad idea. Now, as he crawls from beneath the Voice train wreck, his penance will be to endure the blame and pressure from those who fancied his vow to amend the Constitution as the first step to a treaty and, best of all, reparations

The months between Anthony Albanese's rash election-night pledge and the Voice's overwhelming rejection on October 14 saw public support follow an unvarying downward path to utter defeat. Much as its promoters prefer to blame racism, misinformation and 'sheer stupidity' for their failure, it was hubris, arrogance and bullying which brought their cause undone