Locals in favour of the ‘No’ vote gathered at the Bluewater Quay on Saturday, 23rd September ahead of the upcoming Voice referendum, with prominent key figures from the Mackay region attending to share their opinion on the campaign, following a walk across Forgan Bridge.
The campaign is also known as ‘Australians for Unity’, led by Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine.
On the opposing side, Yes23 are campaigning for ‘listening, recognition and better results’.
The ‘Yes’ vote campaigners are three groups with a shared history and objective: the enshrinement of an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has become a spearhead of the ‘No’ vote campaign. The group aims to limit racial division and encourage Treaty as a first and foremost priority within the Federal government.
Mr. Stephen Andrew, parliamentary member of the Mirani electorate for the One Nation party, commented in opposition of the Voice to Parliament.
Mr. Andrew stated, “Think about core values and what this really means, its’ tokenistic at best,” he said.
“There’s a lot of elite people out there trying to push one agenda.
“Australia is a democracy, never forget it.”
Patricia Brady, or ‘Aunty Patsy’ is a fifth generation Indigenous Elder of the Birri Gubba nation, who took to the stage to share her history as a First Nations person and what ‘the voice’ means to her.
Sharing her emotional story to the crowd of attendees, Aunty Patsy detailed her childhood and the atrocities she faced when her and other families were removed from country and placed into missions.
Aunty Patsy shared, “Our greatest strength is our spiritual connection to the land. We don’t own the land, the land owns us.
“They introduced Native Title and Land Councils to divide us, to leave those of us remaining, fighting over money,” she said.
“We want to see the wealth of this country return to all. We want you to know that we all can live in the world we share and respect each other and the land.
“Our people have to stand together side by side, we must put our prejudice aside and move forward as one.”
Other prominent figures at the event included Patricia’s daughter, Vicky, and Kim Robertson.
To find out more information about the efforts of the ‘No’ campaign, visit fairaustralia.com.au.
For information regarding the referendum, visit voice.gov.au.
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