A heated argument broke out between Indigenous politicians on national television over whether the huge sum being spent on a vote referendum would be better used for popular programming in First Nations communities.
The discussion erupted on Monday night’s episode of ABC’s Q&A with a question from student Laura Strawbridge from New South Wales, who recently attended a constitutional conference in the nation’s capital.
Among the panelists were Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Yangabe Nambiginpa Price and Labor Senator Malandiri McCarthy, who together hold the only two upper house seats in the Northern Territory.
“Why should the big taxpayers’ money be used to hold this referendum at the risk of the vote being just a token?” asked Mrs. Straubridge.
She wondered if the money could be better invested in education and health care in Indigenous communities that would “more likely bring about real positive change”.
Labor has budgeted $75m for the Indigenous vote referendum to parliament due later this year with the money going to the Australian Electoral Commission, the National Agency for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney General’s Department and advertising campaigns.
Appearing in Monday’s Q&A, Ms. Straubridge (pictured) asked if the money spent on the vote could be better used for welfare programmes.
Senator Price, who disagrees with the voice, gets into a shouting match with her fellow NT native
Senator McCarthy said the question about The Voice’s budget was a good one but that there were bigger issues under consideration.
First Nations people demand that their voices never cease. With every change of government there is a change in policy regarding the lives of the indigenous people.
As a result, their lives could be turned upside down… Always having their voice heard is really at the heart of this issue.
“We’ve spent millions and millions of dollars over decades trying to fix problems (in First Nations communities) but clearly something isn’t working.”
Senator Price interjected, “That’s not an answer to her question.”
“This process is called democracy,” she said, “everyone has to go through this change of government and change of policy.”
“Not to the same extent as the First Nations,” Senator McCarthy said.
At this point, the two senators started talking to each other and the argument became even more heated.
“There is no accountability for organizations out there, and there are thousands of them, that use taxpayer money and are responsible for mitigating social harm,” said Senator Price.
We didn’t examine how they waste money.
Or consider the rangers on the Land Board who control indigenous lands and do not give traditional owners the opportunity to use their lands to create economic opportunities.
The Voice will empower them.
Senator McCarthy responded, “That’s not true.”
“There are audits in this country for those organizations…my colleague from the Northern Territory doesn’t see that.”
Then host Stan Grant interjected, “We’re definitely hearing voice tonight. It’s hard to tell who’s talking.”
“You get a lesson in politics here,” he added to Strawbridge.
“They all talk on top of each other.”
Senator McCarthy said there are bigger issues than the budget and that The Voice can reduce spending in the future by providing consistency through government changes.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese brought 18 others to the podium, including Senator McCarthy, for his announcement last week on the referendum issue.
Aboriginal leaders say the vote-to-parliament referendum that all Australians will vote on in the second half of the year marks a “line-in-the-sand moment” to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Members of the Indigenous Voice Referendum Working Group say the creation of the body will be a defining moment for the country.
“We’re here to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘This has to change, people’s lives have to get better,'” Marcia Langton, a member of the Canberra Action Group, said on Thursday.
We know from evidence that what improves people’s lives is when they have a say and that’s what this is about.
Truth Burns Truth is very much a value to Aboriginal people and a value to Torres Strait Islanders across the country. This is…a big part of our thinking.
The Referendum Working Group stood alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Parliament House to outline the constitutional change Australians will be asked to agree to sometime between October and December.
Voters will be asked: ‘A proposed Act to amend the Constitution to recognize First Peoples in Australia by creating an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you agree with this proposed amendment?
First Nations Referendum Working Group member Dr Marcia Langton was emotional when she heard Anthony Albanese announce the referendum question
The opposition has agreed to support the Aboriginal Voice of Parliament bill in the upper house (pictured, people take part in protests on Australia Day this year)
