Voice architects say the referendum has tapped into a ‘deep well of historical racism’ as Noel Pearson issues a tough message to those voting no

Key figures from the Indigenous Voice to Parliament say the referendum campaign has ‘tapped into a deep well of historical racism’.

Marcia Langton and Tom Calma, Ian Anderson, Yin Paradies and Ray Lovett commented in an article on the referendum for The Lancet, one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world.

In their article, they explained how a No vote will have a “deeply negative effect” on Indigenous Australians who have been working towards reconciliation for almost two decades.

But they also highlighted the murky problem of the referendum process.

“There are early signs that the referendum process itself is causing Indigenous Australians to experience higher levels of racism,” they said.

“We argue that this is partly because the referendum process taps into a deep well of historical racism that originated on the Australian border when Indigenous peoples were ‘forcibly expelled from their lands by the British’.”

“Since the referendum was announced, there has been a substantial increase in threats, abuse, defamation and hate speech against Indigenous people, both in person and online,” the academics wrote.

They highlighted an Australian e-Safety Commission report from May that noted a more than 10 percent increase in complaints from Indigenous people due to threats, harassment and online abuse.

The group said some Australians have unfairly challenged Indigenous people over their views on the referendum.

“The Voice referendum process creates a substantial cultural burden on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” they said.

“Indigenous people are asked and expected to have conversations about this issue, and are often challenged to defend their positions.”

Professor Langton, together with Tom Calma (pictured), Ian Anderson, Yin Paradies and Ray Lovett, wrote the article for The Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals

The group said the referendum had resulted in “a substantial increase in threats, abuse, defamation and hate speech against Indigenous people, both in person and online.” the Garma festival)

The academics spoke about the significant impact the referendum would have on the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australis, regardless of the final outcome.

“Despite differing views, campaign groups view this as the most consequential referendum in the history of the Federation of Australia,” it said.

“Whatever the outcome, it will have a profound effect on the future relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.”

They say that if the referendum results in a ‘yes’ vote, indigenous people will have to work ‘very closely’ with politicians to ensure that voting legislation fits in with their quest for greater autonomy and control over their lives.

It comes as leading Yes campaigner Noel Pearson said a failed referendum would be ‘a disaster for all of us’.

“I’ve been at this for 30 years, working on these problems from the ground up, and I’m telling you there is no plan B,” he told 3AW radio.

“We will all lose, including the No campaigners. We will lose. If we vote Yes, we will all win, including the No campaigners. This will be good for them and for the whole country if we vote ‘Yes’.”

He also had a tough message for Australians considering voting no: “Really? That people who have lived here for 65,000 years will be rejected? Will their recognition not be incorporated into the Constitution after fifteen years?’

Early voting for the Voice is already underway, with support increasing for the first time in months, but still lagging behind the ‘no’ vote.

Leading Yes campaigner Noel Pearson (pictured right) said a failed referendum would be ‘a disaster for all of us’, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured left) said he was confident the referendum was still ‘winnable’.

The latest Guardian Essential poll showed that 43 per cent of 1,125 respondents will vote ‘yes’, an increase of two per cent on the last two weeks.

But 49 percent plan to vote ‘no’ and eight percent have not yet made a decision.

Anthony Albanese was confident the referendum was still ‘winnable’ and said the undecided voters he had spoken to thought the proposal to set up an Indigenous Voice was ‘fair’.

“If Australia votes yes, it will show respect for the First Australians, but it will also do something else. We will feel better as a nation,” he said on Tuesday.

“By voting yes, we will give three percent of the population the opportunity to be heard on issues that directly affect them, and they will have a voice and be listened to, and we will achieve better results. ‘

The Prime Minister stated that the Voice will deliver ‘better results’ and save the country money.

“My plea to voters … is to look at what the question is for the Australian people,” he said.

It says very clearly, in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia – that’s the recognition bit – and it just says ‘there shall be a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice . It may comment on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“There is nothing to fear here, everything to gain.”