A proud Indigenous activist has revealed he plans to vote ‘no’ in the upcoming Voice referendum because the concept ‘does not come from black ambition’.
Just a month after the historic referendum, support for the yes vote has fallen off a cliff, with opinion polls showing the majority of Australians intend to reject the proposed constitutional change.
Ben Abbatangelo, a proud Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk man and former professional cricketer and writer, originally supported the move. But now he says he’s a solid number one.
“It doesn’t come from black ambition… it comes from what is acceptable to constitutional conservatives,” he said. ABC’s four corners.
“The idea that the people who stole this country and then directly benefited from it are now going to a referendum to think about recognizing the people they stole it from is insane.”
Ben Abbatangelo, a proud Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk man and former Melbourne Stars cricketer, says ‘slow incremental changes are killing us’. Pictured: Brooke Boney, who plans to vote Yes, with Mr. Abbatangelo, who plans to vote No
The proud Indigenous activist (pictured) has revealed he plans to vote No in the upcoming Voice referendum because the concept ‘does not come from black ambition’.
The referendum, to be held on October 14, aims to enshrine First Nation’s People in the constitution and establish a commission called the Voice to Parliament that will advise the government on issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
Mr Abbatangelo rejects the idea that the advisory body would be a positive step for the indigenous community.
‘That’s not true and we don’t have time. This slow incremental change is killing us,” he said.
‘I don’t want to take a small step, in quicksand, with my feet tied together, I want to lift us out.
‘I want to dream and remember what it is like to live free, autonomous and independent and I want to maintain my dignity by pursuing that.’
The backlash against the Voice, championed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is also penetrating remote indigenous communities.
Jason Ford, who runs a small business and drives a school bus in Murdi Paaki in Brewarrina, Outback New South Wales, said while he wants to vote Yes, he will cast a No vote.
Jason Ford says elders in his community have asked the community to vote NO
Opposition to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s policies is also reaching remote indigenous communities
“My oldest told me to vote no,” he explains.
“If my elder tells me something, I have to respect what they say no matter what. I don’t ask questions about that.
“I’ll feel for them if it doesn’t work out, and I’ll be happy for them if it does happen… because I respect what they’ve done.
“I just hope it doesn’t negatively change the way people treat us. I hope it’s a positive outcome either way.”
But not everyone is so pessimistic about what a successful yes vote could mean for Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar, from Fitzroy Crossing in Washington, plans to vote ‘yes’. She calls it a “great opportunity… to get things in order.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar plans to vote ‘Yes’ because it is an issue that ‘needs to be addressed now by this generation’
She has been an advocate for the safety of women and children for decades and hopes a successful ‘yes’ vote will give her people more say in what happens in Canberra.
“We live with these issues and are affected by them every day… child protection, youth detention, housing… it no longer makes sense for others to make these decisions without us,” she says.
“I would like us to be able to address this now in our generation and not leave it to our children and grandchildren to struggle with.”
Many non-Indigenous Australians are also divided over how to vote.
Anne Vanderberg and Alan Coates recognize that changes are needed to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, but are unsure whether voting yes is the right move.
Anne Vanderberg and Alan Coates are confused by the bad news on The Voice
“I think it’s important, but I don’t know what the right thing to do is,” Ms. Vanderberg said.
‘I feel ignorant. I have no idea how to vote as there doesn’t seem to be much detail.
“I’m hearing from indigenous groups that are really for it, others that are definitely against it, umm and I just don’t know, I don’t know what I’m going to vote because I don’t feel like I have enough information.”
Mr Coates worries that regardless of the referendum result, Australia will feel like it is becoming even more divisive.
“It doesn’t bring people together, it kind of drives a wedge (between us).”