Hate, hypocrisy and lies in the “no” campaign against the Voice

It is an appalling fact that it is legal for the “no” campaign to lie because a key Parliamentary committee decided not to change the laws about truth in political advertising until after this referendum - see https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-legal-to-tell-lies-during-the-voice-referendum-campaign-209211. 

FWIW, the current chair of that committee claims to support the Voice - see https://www.katethwaites.com/voice-to-parliament-2/ -  but the “yes” campaign is currently losing support because of lies she and others chose to allow. 

As I write this, my weekly news post currently includes: 

the “former shadow minister for Indigenous Australians has accused the voice no campaign of trying to stir anger in the electorate with personal attacks on high-profile Indigenous Australians” (TG) - and “the “No” campaign in the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament is targeting migrant communities and parts of Sydney that voted strongly against marriage equality in the 2017 postal vote” - so tapping in to existing hate to create yet more hate (TG);   the old, entrenched white supremacist hate of Qld is showing (TG);   an examination of the arguments being used (TC);   “constitutional expert and Indigenous voice supporter Prof Greg Craven is “absolutely furious” at being quoted in the no campaign’s official essay, and he says Peter Dutton’s office ignored his request not to be included” (TG);   

I saw commentary on social media showing how the Equality Phobic Potato (Dutton) is picking up free exposure on social media through a combination of social media’s ineptness and immorality, mainstream media cluelessness, and the political savvy of hate-filled dinosaurs in Qld politics. 

Incidentally, I don’t know anyone who thinks the EPP’s actions are driven by any sort of genuine concern for Indigenous people - desire for power is probably the softest assessment, but the EPP has too often shown the sort of misinformed prejudice of Qld police, who still struggle with domestic violence and racism, IMO (based on media reports I’ve read but cannot be bothered trying to track down). In general, most of those in the “no” camp are showing the sorts of attitudinal problems the RoboDebt Royal Commission warned us against - which is something I wrote about here.

There may well be some people who have the view - misinformed or uninformed, IMO - that the EPP is genuine, and I know some Indigenous people have genuine and valid concerns (e.g., about what comes after), but, as I wrote here, if the Referendum fails, there is a major risk that there won’t be anything else comparable for years to come, and that that future proposal will face increased resistance.

This is something we knew in TransGender Victoria when campaigning for protection of the then new attribute of gender identity in the late 90s. There were dozens of trans and gender diverse (TGD) people forced into prostitution and/or living on street and/or drug problems (authoritatively researched and well written about by Roberta Perkins), and, through a combination of political circumstance and an opportunity grabbed at a public meeting by my co-convenor and still close friend Sally Goldner, we knew we had an opportunity that would not occur again - and we took it.

In any case, I hope all those responsible for lying or allowing others to lie never do so again. 

As a final point, see this powerful and articulate opinion in favour of the Voice - for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike - by an Indigenous man (The Guardian). 

PS - from today’s news:

“Australia may lose its only chance for indigenous constitutional recognition if the referendum on the voice is defeated later this year, the minister for Indigenous Australians has told a yes vote event” (The Guardian)

PPS - from more news reports, including more showing, IMO, the evil of the no campaign (and their victim blaming mentality and blindness to structural inequality has been shown on social media): 

an examination of the arguments being used (TC) - see also here (Yes) (TG) and here (No) (TG), here, on another ridiculous claim (TG), and here, on a conspiracy fantasist’s illegal pamphlet with lies and using an Indigenous artwork without permission (TND), here on the no campaigns “open invitation to racists” (TG);

but the depths of the evil of the problems in Australia is probably best shown by: 

a female Indigenous Senator in Australia is being formally protected after receiving death threats (NIT);

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Finally, remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing.