Yes advocate Noel Pearson slams Peter Dutton’s second Indigenous Voice referendum proposal

Leading Yes advocate Noel Pearson has branded Peter Dutton’s idea of ​​a second referendum an ‘absolute mirage’, saying a No vote would be his ‘worst nightmare’.

While there is support in every poll for a drastic drop in the yes vote, Pearson said he remains optimistic that Australians will vote for change on October 14.

In a powerful interview on Sunday, Cape York’s leader said he refuses to believe Australians are “capable” of voting no, saying it would show a level of “unrequited love” seen at this point in history of the country was unconscionable.

“It’s always been very difficult for us, but we’ve made gains in recent years,” he told ABC News on Sunday.

‘We are always the underdog. We make up three percent of the population. We are the most powerless people in the country, with the weakest political support in the country, but through persuasion, through arguments and persistent campaigns, we have managed to make gains… I still believe we can achieve victory.”

On the idea put forward by the Opposition Leader to hold a second referendum based purely on recognition, should this referendum fail and he is appointed Prime Minister, Mr Pearson said the proposal was “ridiculous in their own terms” and nothing was different from smoke and mirrors.

Mr Pearson said the last time symbolic recognition was voted on in 1999, the ‘worse than the republic’ question had failed and would not pass if asked again.

‘It’s just an absolute mirage. What it does is prolong this debate for another five years. We have been working on it for 15 years. John Howard promised this … on election night 2007,” Pearson said.

‘And here we are fifteen years later. Peter Dutton wants to change course and stimulate debate, division and argumentation for another five years. Wait until he becomes prime minister, he says. Then they’ll try again.’

He said Dutton had “stripped” his credibility by proposing the second referendum, only to have it halted just a few days later by his Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

‘The leader of the opposition says: let’s have a second referendum. And then his own… spokeswoman kills it Thursday night. Not only that, his coalition partner (the Nationals) will absolutely not organize another referendum,” Pearson said.

On the Opposition Leader’s idea to hold a second referendum purely on the basis of recognition, should this referendum fail and he is appointed Prime Minister, Mr Pearson said the proposal was ‘ridiculous in their own terms’ and was nothing more then smoke and mirrors.

He said Dutton had “eviscerated” his credibility by proposing the second referendum, but this was halted just a few days later by his Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

‘The fact is that we will never get a referendum for constitutional recognition from these people. They are here for constant debate, constant arguing, conflict and debate. They want this issue to never end. They like conflict and discussions.

‘The ‘Yes’ campaign says: we will do that on October 14. We are taking care of one of the biggest problems the country still needs to solve; it is open business, as John Howard put it in 2007, unfinished business.”

When asked what a no vote would say about the country, Pearson said he would make that judgment after the referendum.

“I believe we still have the ability to do the right thing,” he said.

‘I simply do not believe that when the hand of friendship and reconciliation is extended by the indigenous people, their love will be unrequited. I can’t believe that.

“I can’t believe we’re still an Australia where that hand would just be thrown aside… I just don’t believe Australians are capable of that.”