Aboriginal ABC reporter says the Voice campaign has made Indigenous people feel like they need to justify their ‘right to exist’

An Aboriginal ABC reporter has opened up about how the Voice to Parliament campaign has made Indigenous people feel unwelcome in their own country.

Speaking during the ABC’s coverage of the referendum on Saturday night, reporter Dan Bourchier, who grew up in Tennant Creek in the NT, said several other Indigenous people had told him they had mentally checked out from the whole debate.

“People have said they are leaving the debate, the tone has been so vile that I don’t want to be part of it,” said Mr. Bourchier.

“One old man actually told me a few days ago that they didn’t want to consider their Aboriginality as the thing that was being debated by the nation and that was going to be voted on today.”

“They explained what the process was and said it feels like more than that, it seems like it’s about who we are and our right to exist. This is a sentiment I have heard far and wide.’

Indigenous Australians vote at the Bellevue Hall polling station in Midland, Perth on Saturday

“On the other hand I have heard the most extraordinary generosity from the elders,” said Mr. Bourchier.

He explained that a woman told him a story about being in front of the girls’ home where she was taken as a child.

“When she came out she said to her mum, why didn’t you love me and her mum burst into tears and said of course I love you, they took you.

“She said despite that pain, now she feels like she wanted to vote Yes because this was something that would have an impact and make a difference.”

Journalist Dan Bourchier, who grew up at Tennant Creek in the NT, said several other Indigenous people had told him they had been mentally controlled by the whole debate

Australians will soon know whether an Indigenous voice will be included in the constitution as polls close in three states and the ACT.

Millions of voters took part in 7,000 polling stations across the country on Saturday for the first referendum since 1999.

They were asked whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be recognized through a permanent, non-constitutionally binding advisory body that would be able to make representations to government and parliament.

Voting closed at 6pm local time in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, with South Australia to follow, before polling stations closed in Queensland, the Northern Territory and finally Western Australia.

Four of the six states would need to vote in favor of the referendum for it to succeed with a majority of all Australian ‘yes’ votes.

A three-three state tie will result in a ‘no’ result.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remained hopeful of a ‘yes’ result, despite published polls pointing to the success of the ‘no’ vote.