The “no” campaign against the Voice referendum has, in my opinion, had a major component that were racist. In addition, the actions of the opposition leader lend themselves to being seen as political, rather than genuine.
Recent media reports have only reinforced those views in me.
See the following:
“Paul Bongiorno: The vibe is killing the Voice … just as Peter Dutton intended” https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2023/09/12/paul-bongiorno-the-vibe/
“Peter Dutton, in one of the most shameless exhibitions of gaslighting, blamed Anthony Albanese for mishandling what he disingenuously called the “Canberra Voice”.”
This is a major critique, and should, in my opinion, be read and thought about.
“Labor accuses no campaign of a ‘flat out lie’ after volunteer phone scripts revealed” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/12/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-labor-no-campaign-lie-phone-scripts
“Guide suggests callers identify themselves as representing Fair Australia rather than the no campaign against the Indigenous voice to parliament”
See also https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/indigenous-news/2023/09/12/no-campaign-lies-peter-dutton/ and https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2023/09/13/peter-dutton-voice-misinformation/ and https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2023/09/13/voice-debate-legal-storm/
“First Peoples’ Assembly condemns fake letter as ‘racist fear-mongering’ while Victorian police make inquiries” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/13/first-peoples-assembly-fake-letter-dylan-clarke-land
“Letter falsely claiming to be authored by Dylan Clarke wrongly suggests body is reacquiring land”
In my opinion, this is the sort of action that fear mongering etc lead to - much as christo-fascist homo/bi/transphobia leads to violence including murder.
“The Indigenous voice debate is testing Australia’s democracy – and we can’t give in to rancorous polarisation” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/sep/12/the-indigenous-voice-debate-is-a-test-of-australias-democracy-and-we-cant-give-in-to-rancorous-polarisation
“Peter Dutton knows that the louder the contention about the voice gets, the more Australians will switch off”
This is also a major critique that should, in my opinion, be read and thought about.
“Busselton council candidate Stephen Wells stands by racist, anti-Semitic commentary” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-11/busselton-council-candidate-stands-by-racist-comments/102840138
“A self-described "racist, sexist, democracy-scorning whites-lover" running for local government in Western Australia is standing by what he says are his "Christian" views.”
This is the sort of hate-filled person who I am concerned about full stop, but is also likely to be found, it seems to me, in the “no” campaign.
See also https://qnews.com.au/neo-nazi-plan-to-infiltrate-councils-exposed-in-busselton/
And, in contrast, on the other side
“"Don't make it complicated": Aboriginal Advancement League leader makes Voice plea to nation” https://nit.com.au/11-09-2023/7630/dont-make-it-complicated-aboriginal-advancement-league-ceo-makes-voice-plea-to-nation
“Aboriginal Advancement League chief executive Aunty Esme Bamblett has asked people not to make the upcoming referendum on the Voice complicated, and approach the proposal with a straightforward message in mind.”
“Grassroots Sovereign Blackfella, Jill Gallagher talks about why she's voting yes at the referendum” https://youtu.be/9wckc9lNeTg?si=kosOT7D5OBpbug39 (YouTube Video)
“Jill Gallagher talks to podcast host Paul Stewart and shares personal family stories about why she will be voting 'yes' at the upcoming referendum for a First Nations voice to parliament. She reflects on her time as Treaty Commissioner for Victoria and what she heard from the Local Mob when she travelled the state talking Treaty. If you enjoy story telling and a laugh along the way - you will love this!
Jillian Gallagher AO (born 1955) is a Gunditjmara from Australia who has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) since 2001. As a single mother in her twenties Gallagher was accepted into a training scheme for young Aboriginal people at the Museum of Victoria. She worked on the return of the Murray Black Collection and served as manager of the heritage branch of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Victoria) before taking up a position at VACCHO in 1998. In 2017 Gallagher was appointed Commissioner of the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission until the voting period ended in October 2019. Gallagher was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2009 and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2015. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2013.”
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
- this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
- there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan
Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”;
- I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Vote Yes for the Voice in Australia.
Finally, remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing.
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