Indigenous Leaders Call for “Week of Silence” Following Referendum Defeat

story

Oct 17, 2023

Image copyright: Wikimedia Commonsstory last updated Oct 18, 2023

The Facts

Several Australia's First Nations organizations who campaigned for enshrining an advisory Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution, including the Central Land Council and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, have called for a "week of silence" in the aftermath of the referendum's result.
A statement — which also urged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands flags be lowered to half mast for the week — was released on Saturday evening, after it became clear that the constitutional amendment would be rejected in all six states. The statement followed consultation with key Yes23 campaigners.

The Spin

Left narrative

Australia's First Nations people have endured generations of discrimination, exclusion, and outright theft. The referendum was a way to try and unite the country, but it failed due to a misinformation campaign that steered debate away from the core issues. This result damages Australia's image in the world regarding how it treats Indigenous people.

Guardian

Right narrative

A Yes vote for the Indigenous Voice referendum — which was itself a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes — would have let politicians widely considered untrustworthy create sets of rules to govern the body, while dividing Australians along racial lines without actually reducing Indigenous disadvantage or marginalization. The government is right in its attempts to push forward pragmatic and feasible improvements for indigenous populations.