No vote for Indigenous Australia – misinformation played a major role in the campaign

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A historic proposal about the position of Australia’s indigenous population has been rejected by voters. In a referendum on Saturday in all states and at a national level, a clear majority was against granting a special vote to the indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The results show that reconciliation with the original inhabitants of the country is still a long way off.

Less than an hour after the polling stations closed, it was clear that the plan had failed. The so-called Voice was a proposal from the indigenous population themselves. In 2017, representatives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples issued a joint statement asking for a voice in politics so that they are not only talked about, but with them when policies that affect them are made. There was a need for a body that could advise parliament on political decisions that affect the lives of the country’s original inhabitants. They wanted to have this enshrined in the constitution, so that it cannot be reversed by a subsequent government. More than 80 percent of the indigenous population supports the proposal.

But changing the Australian Constitution is not easy. A double majority is needed; a majority in four of the six states, and a national majority. Only 8 of the 44 referendums Australia has ever held have been successful.

Democracy sausage

Earlier in the day, proponents were in the majority at polling stations in Sydney. In La Perouse, a neighborhood bordering the beach with a relatively large indigenous population, voters were greeted by volunteers from the Yes campaign who stood at the entrance with posters and flyers. The sausages were on the barbecue. It is an Australian tradition to eat a so-called ‘democracy sausage’ after voting.

Johanna Hamilton came with her husband and eight children to cast her vote. “I voted ‘yes’ with some reluctance. I find it difficult to trust the government,” she says. That distrust exists among many indigenous people, because they have been subordinated for so long by successive governments. “Still, I think that the Voice would be a step in the right direction. I want my children to have a future and to be listened to.”

A voter casts his vote out at a surf club at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Photo Toby Zerna/EPA

Opponents say a special advisory body for indigenous residents, which would be enshrined in the constitution, would divide the country based on race. It would therefore increase inequality. “I believe we are all equal in Australia,” says Bill Burst, local councilor for Sydney’s Randwick borough. That is why he voted against. “Enshrining a special place for indigenous people in the constitution only makes the country more divided.”

Also read Will Aboriginal people have their own voice in the Australian Constitution? The historic referendum splits the country in two

Another important argument from nay voters is that too few details are known about what exactly such a Voice entails. “We don’t even know what exactly we are voting for,” says Burst. “You don’t just buy a car without first checking whether it is in order. This is like giving one group carte blanche.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had consciously decided not to answer questions during the campaign about what exactly the advisory body would look like. The referendum only voted on the principle of a ‘vote’ for the indigenous population. The details would only be completed later by parliament. But it doesn’t come to that.

Major backlogs

Now that a majority of the population has rejected the proposal, the question arises what this means for reconciliation efforts with the original population. Things are not going well for this group. In all areas such as education, work, health, suicide rates and life expectancy, the gap with the rest of the Australian population is enormous.

Because of this result, it is feared that the indigenous population will take even more steps backwards. “This referendum has given racists a platform,” says independent Aboriginal senator Lidia Thorpe against Australian broadcaster ABC. She is the leader of a minority of indigenous people who voted ‘no’ because they do not think the proposal goes far enough. “The number of suicides among indigenous people has increased because of the racism during this campaign. The only solution is to conclude a treaty.” This should recognize indigenous people as Australia’s original inhabitants, with whom land restitution and reparations should be negotiated. Australia is one of the few countries in the world that does not yet have a treaty with the original inhabitants, something that countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the US and Norway do.

In the fierce campaign misinformation played a major role.
Photo Richard Wainwright/AAP via Reuters

Misinformation

There is disbelief and anger among indigenous campaign leaders of the yes camp about the outcome of the referendum. “I believe Australia was ready. But because of the opponents’ disgusting campaign, the opposition’s misinformation and lies, we now have this result,” he said. Thomas Mayoa prominent advocate and campaign manager, told ABC.

Indigenous Yes campaign leaders have called for a ‘week of silence’ “to mourn the outcome of the referendum and reflect on its consequences and significance.” They want the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags flown at half-mast.

The last time Indigenous people were the subject of an Australian referendum was in 1967, when a large majority of voters voted in favor of including Indigenous people as part of the population. Before then, the original inhabitants were not counted in national censuses. It was not until 1962 that they were given the right to vote.

Also read Dispute over recognition of the original inhabitants

This is the first Australian referendum in the age of social media. That had a major effect on the campaign. A lot of misinformation has been spread precisely through those channels. This created fear about the possible power of the advisory committee, explains Michael Ingrey. He is Aboriginal and has been campaigning for the yes camp in recent weeks. “There are stories going around that with that advisory committee we can take property or land from non-indigenous people, or that we can demand reparations. Lies made up by the opponents of this referendum,” he says. Observers have also warned about untruths that spread quickly, especially on social media.

Big disappointment

The result is a major setback for the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Labor). His government made the referendum one of its most important priorities. Until the last moment, Albanese seemed confident in a positive outcome. He called on Australians to “get on the right side of history.”

The government has now accepted the results. “This is not the result we hoped for,” a visibly upset Albanian said at a press conference. “If you set high goals, you can also fail.” He called on Australians not to give up. “Millions of Australians voted ‘yes’, full of optimism about the future. We must maintain that optimism now, to find a new way forward together.”

According to opposition leader Peter Dutton (Liberal Party) – who campaigned against the proposal – the country can be proud of the result. “This is a good result for the country,” he said. “Australians have rejected the proposal that sought to divide us based on background and race and was not properly explained.”

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