Peter Dutton has walked back on his commitment for a referendum to recognise indigenous people in Australia’s constitution, while Indigenous leaders of the Yes campaign have called for a week of silence following the defeat of Albanese’s referendum. Image source: Department of Home Affairs via Wikimedia
Following the majority of voter’s rejection of the Indigenous Voice to parliament, First Nations leaders of the Yes campaign have called for a week of silence and mourning.
Rachel Perkins, a Yes23 campaigner and filmmaker, posted a statement on social media on behalf of Indigenous people who had support the Voice to Parliament that Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party put forward.
“It was never in the gift of these newcomers to refuse recognition to the true owners of Australia,” says the statement.
“The referendum was a chance for newcomers to show a long-refused grace and gratitude and to acknowledge that the brutal dispossession of our people underwrote their every advantage in this country.”
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The statement was shared by other Indigenous leaders and advocates on social media.
Lidia Thorpe, an independent senator and Indigenous woman who campaigned for Australian’s to vote no, said the referendum had “caused nothing but harm to First Peoples” and exposed racism on both sides of the campaign.
Thorpe’s position is based on the belief that Australia must have a treaty with First Nations people before changes to the constitution can be made.
Prime Minister Albanese looked visibly disappointed with the result on Saturday night, saying that he would respect the result of the vote and called for “a spirit of unity and healing”.
Albanese said he was obligated to hold the referendum, having it as an election promise leading up to his party’s victory in 2022.
However, Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton dismissed this claim.
“While Yes and No voters may hold differences of opinion, these differences of opinions do not diminish our love for our country or our regard for each other,” he said.
“This is the referendum that Australia did not need to have.”
During his speech after the referendum result on Saturday night, Dutton acknowledged that some Australians would be disappointed with the outcome, and that Australia should not remain divided in the wake of the result.
“What matters is that we all accept the result in this great spirit of our democracy”, during his speech.
On Monday, Dutton took a step back on his promise to hold a referendum to constitutionally recognise Indigenous Australians if his party is elected.
Responding to a question about whether he would send Australians back to the polls for such a referendum, Dutton said, “All of our policy … is going to be reviewed in the process Kerrynne (Liddle) and Jacinta (Price) will lead now.”
“I think that’s important, but I think it’s clear that the Australian public is probably over the referendum process for some time.”
