American rapper MC Hammer, famous for his hit ‘U Can’t Touch This’, has spoken in Australia’s Voice to Parliament debate.
Hammer has spent time “reading articles” and “catching up” on the October 14 referendum, and wants his Australian supporters to support a Yes vote.
‘Australia, it’s time. Repair the gap. I’m with you.’
Hammer noted that Australia “does not have any treaties with its indigenous peoples and has done little compared to other British dominions such as Canada, New Zealand and the United States to include and uplift its First Nations peoples.”
Hammer has spent time “reading articles” and “catching up” on the October 14 referendum, and wants his Australian supporters to support a Yes vote.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was among the critics and responded with a video by activist Thomas Mayo titled: “exposed: the real not-so-secret agenda”.
He credits outspoken Yes advocate Professor Megan Davis and her work educating people about the Voice.
Quoting Davis, he said: “A successful referendum will set a precedent that will be ‘really helpful to other indigenous populations around the world in relation to recognition.’
Ms Davis worked alongside the government to help create the referendum question and became caught up in the debate over the length of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
After Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described his concerns that the statement was actually longer than the page initially stated as a “QAnon conspiracy”, footage resurfaced of Professor Davis describing it as an 18-page document.
Hammer’s stance on a contentious issue in Australia has divided the political world.
Australians will vote in the October 14 referendum to determine whether our constitution will enshrine an Indigenous voice in Parliament.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was among the critics and responded with a video by activist Thomas Mayo titled: “exposed: the real not-so-secret agenda”.
She said: “Here is some more useful information for anyone interested in this referendum.”
‘Once again, Yes supporters seem strangely obsessed with getting the attention of American celebrities. “This is not an American election, it is an Australian referendum.”
Others urged Hammer to “fix his own country first” and argued that he was defending a proposal that would “divide another country along racial lines.”
‘Seriously, you have no idea. “Australia is not the United States,” said another critic.
Similar criticism was leveled at Shaquille O’Neal and Albanese after the basketball legend also endorsed the Voice following a meeting with the Prime Minister in August 2022.
The Prime Minister responded by saying: “I make no apology for saying that I will speak to anyone, anywhere, anytime, about these issues.” And anything we can do to raise the profile of this issue is a good thing.”
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal (center) is pictured with Indigenous Australian Minister Linda Burney (left) and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right).
Hammer said a backlash was to be expected and argued that there is “one Earth.”
‘Politics is no longer domestic. The world is inextricably linked…I cannot avoid its politics…We have a responsibility to each other.’
But others thanked MC Hammer for using his platform to draw attention to the referendum.