A PROMINENT Liberal Party leader and the CEO of the Hastings-based Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association joined forces last week in urging a Yes vote in next month’s Voice to Parliament referendum.
Former Liberal ACT Chief Minister, Kate Carnell AO, said it was “a very Liberal thing to do, to vote Yes on 14 October”.
Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association CEO Peter Aldenhoven said the referendum offered “hope, change, opportunity and possibility”.
Carnell and Aldenhoven spoke at the second Voice public forum held at Rosebud by the Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN).
SWAN member Judith Graley said all speakers at the forum “emphasised what a simple, non-threatening change” was being sought through the referendum.
“Each made it clear that on 15 October, the day after the referendum, a Yes result will mean absolutely no change to the lifestyle of 97 per cent of the population,” Graley said.
“For the three per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population it will mean a significant change and an opportunity to have a say in what impacts their lives.”
Lawyer Bryce Patterson gave assurances that adoption of the referendum would not “lead to a raft of litigation and it would have no power to make laws – the parliament would make the laws, as it must under the Constitution”.
Carnell outlined the question being asked at the referendum and said that “fundamentally, there is nothing to worry about”.
As a Liberal who believed in good policy, not wasting taxpayer money and promoting personal responsibility, to vote Yes was “the sensible thing to do”.
Aldenhoven said that at least 80 per cent of First Nations people supported the Voice.
Adoption of the referendum was needed because past government policies, including assimilation, the stolen generations and the Northern Territory “intervention” had done “enduring harm” and needed to stop.
Graley said that “one of many poignant moments of the public meeting” was Aldenhoven quoting Indigenous footballer Michael Long: “This is an offer of love – we hope mainstream Australians can embrace it – we don’t want rage.”
SWAN facilitator Erica Churchill said it had been “especially powerful to hear a Liberal woman, a local Indigenous leader and a legal expert outline clearly how the Voice would work and how important issues like education, health and housing for Aboriginal people would be better delivered, ensuring government funds would be much more likely to have a lasting impact”.
“It has been disturbing to hear so much misinformation still being spread. SWAN has worked hard to make sure accurate information is being provided to the people of the Mornington Peninsula.”
Committee member Diane McDonald had been “very moved” by Aldenhoven saying failure of the referendum would be “a bitter pill to swallow if mainstream Australians voted against government listening to the voices of Aboriginal people”.
SWAN member Maureen Donelly: “What impressed me about the public forum is knowing that there are many Liberals who believe strongly in the Voice and will be voting Yes. They believe it is the right thing to do.”