One of the complaints levelled against the Indigenous #VoiceToParliament is that the proposed #Voice will institutionalise unequal access to parliamentary attention, with some people having more avenues to exercise influence than others.

This has typically struck me as either somewhat clueless or (sometimes) in bad faith.

The fact is that there already exist a number of institutionally-enshrined "voices" creating wildly unequal access to parliament and executive government. The last week's focus from the federal Opposition in parliament has been highlighting how frequently the voice of #Qantas gets heeded, for instance. Whereas when it comes to, say, the #MineralsCouncilAustralia or Rupert #Murdoch, not only can they get a minister's ear more or less whenever they like, but their approval or disapproval often makes or breaks party leaders.