Yes23 co-chair Rachel Perkins has argued opponents of the Indigenous voice are “doing their best to create division” after Warren Mundine claimed the Uluru statement from the heart was a “symbolic declaration of war”.
Mundine, a spokesperson for the no campaign, made the controversial comments on Tuesday as he addressed the National Press Club in Canberra, arguing the Uluru statement “couldn’t be further from the idea of reconciliation”.
Speaking on the Full Story podcast, Perkins said she felt “very disappointed” by the way Mundine had framed what was “a very unifying ask on our country from First Nations people”.
“It is a hopeful document that tries to bring the nation together and I think the no case is doing their best to create division and misinformation around what that statement actually is,” said the award-winning film-maker.
In reference to Mundine’s comments, Perkins quoted the words of her father, Charles Perkins, a trailblazing Aboriginal activist who was instrumental in the campaign for the 1967 referendum.
“History will remember their behaviour in relation to this really historic opportunity for unity. And, you know, my dad always used to say, ‘we forgive, but we never forget’. And this will not be forgotten by Indigenous people.”
The Kalkadoon and Arrernte film-maker discussed her experience of the “difficult” referendum campaign so far, where she has been “subject to abuse” while she was door-knocking, and encountered “a whole lot of racist stereotypes about my people”.
She also admitted that the yes campaign and the government were “possibly not” prepared for the spread of misinformation during the referendum and expressed concern about the “crossover” between the no movement and conspiracy theorists.
“I was at a rally three days ago … and an Indigenous woman as part of the no group got up and said the voice was going to take over government, that it was a communist plot, that we were all communists and that people should go home and check the deeds for their property because the voice would come for their homes.
“It was an absolute disgraceful set of lies. And so this is the company that the no campaign are in.” .
With just over two weeks left until referendum day, the prominent yes campaigner said “the stakes are very high”.
“If we don’t get it across the line now, I’m not sure when the opportunity will come again, certainly not in my lifetime.”
She urged voters to “read the provision, read the amendment” to Australia’s constitution.
“They will see in the amendment that it simply is suggesting that we should agree to give an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament and the executive … It’s just an advisory committee. Seriously, it’s so modest, it’s so modest.”
