Voice to Parliament on shaky ground in Far North Queensland as ‘no’ vote leads

One hundred residents of Cairns and Far North Queensland were asked how they would vote if the Voice to Parliament referendum was held today. This is what they said.

The Voice to Parliament is on shaky ground in Far North Queensland, with the majority of residents polled saying they would vote no if the referendum was held immediately.

The Voice idea was born from an Indigenous convention at Uluru in 2017 as part of a grassroots-authored road map to reconciliation.

The proposal seeks to create an Indigenous advisory body that would advise the federal parliament on policy and legislation related to Indigenous affairs.

The yes campaign, lead by the federal Labor government, is seeking to plant the body in the nation’s constitution.

The proposal will therefore be put to the public in a referendum, likely later this year.

Of 103 respondents to the Cairns Post poll, 30 said they would vote no, 27 would vote yes, 28 were unaware of the proposal and 18 said they were aware but undecided.

Among the poll’s respondents were 35 people who identified as Indigenous.

Stephanie Tayley of Wujal Wujal, Delphina Giblet of Lockhart River and Graham Ned of Pormpuraaw. Mr Ned said he was “100 per cent” in favour of the Voice, but both Ms Tayley and Ms Giblet had not heard of the proposal. Picture: Brendan Radke

Thirteen said they would vote yes, 13 were unaware of the proposal, five said they were undecided and four said they would vote no.

Graham Ned, from Pormpuraaw, said he was “100 per cent” in favour of the Voice.

“It will help because the reality we live is different to what policies try to achieve,” Mr Ned said.

“We’ve got our rights, but then again we’ve still got deaths in custody. People, like me, are leaving their communities because of the violence and rioting. I’d rather see our community without violence.

“Drugs and alcohol are also big problems back home. We also want our younger ones to have a better education, so they can look after their children.”

The Uluru Statement from the Heart, which was authored at a convention of Indigenous delegates in 2017, calls for a Voice to Parliament enshrined in Australia’s Constitution. Picture: Supplied

One common concern expressed by Indigenous people who said they would vote no or were undecided was the Voice would not sufficiently represent the diversity of Indigenous communities and therefore ignore the differences between them.

Another concern related to distrust; that is, they had no faith in initiatives championed by Australian governments.

Tiana Yeatman from Yarrabah said she would vote yes but her community was being let down by a lack of information on how a Voice would improve the socio-economic circumstances within her town.

“The government is talking about a Voice for (Indigenous people) across the nation, but we’re struggling here in our community with housing,” Ms Yeatman said.

Residents of Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire say there has been insufficient consultation and communication within the community regarding the Indigenous Voice. Picture: Brendan Radke

“No-one has come to speak to us. We’ve got outsiders making decisions. They should come and talk to grassroots people before they go making noise around the country.”

The most common concern among non-Indigenous poll respondents who said they would vote no was a lack of information on the Voice, which they said made them uncomfortable with the proposal.

Others were unsure the proposal was the most effective way to help Indigenous people.

Robert Bottcer, a non-Indigenous man from Bamaga, said there was a lack of understanding among his community about the proposal and he intended to vote no.

Fred Pascoe, a leader within the Gulf of Carpentaria communities, said he and the communities he worked with were not part of the Uluru dialogue and had insufficient information about the Voice. Picture: Brian Cassey

“There’s been not much talk at all – as good as nothing. The government just doesn’t seem to be talking to people where the issue really matters,” Mr Bottcer said.

“I believe the constitution should be changed to recognise Indigenous people as the first Australians … that should have happened in 1901. But how this Voice is going to make any impact, that’s not clear to me.”

As the federal government debated the Voice Constitution Alteration Bill in parliament, more than a quarter of poll respondents said they were unaware of the Voice proposal.

University of New South Wales constitutional law professor George Williams, who co-authored the 2021 book Everything You Need to Know About the Uluru Statement From the Heart, said past referendums indicated voters with insufficient understanding of the proposed change tended to vote no.

Constitutional law expert George Williams said people who lacked understanding of proposed change had historically voted no at referendums. Source: UNSW.

“A lot more work needs to be done to make sure Australians are comfortable with this decision … the yes campaign will need to explain why (this proposal) will improve people’s lives and why it’s a safe decision, and will need to make sure there’s enough information for voters,” Dr Williams said.

“History shows people who are lacking confidence are reluctant to make change.”

Some poll respondents who said they would vote no said their perception that Indigenous people “had enough rights already” was motivating their decision.

Dr Williams said the Voice would not confer additional rights to Indigenous people.

“It just provides them a say on laws and policies that affect them. It would have no veto rights. In that way it is such a modest proposal,” he said.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said recognition of Indigenous people as First Australians should be split from the Voice issue. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

“It also offers the opportunity for more efficient spending of taxpayers’ money. Therefore it would be good public policy.”

In federal parliament on Thursday Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said it was unreasonable to expect Australians to vote without a full wad of details informing their decision.

“The old line, ‘trust us, vote yes and we’ll figure out the details later’, is simply not going to fly,” Mr Entsch said.

“It’s an extraordinary proposition and I completely understand why many Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, are having serious reservations.

“Recognition is absolutely critical. We need to be taking recognition out of this debate and installing it in the constitution immediately.

“What I’m urging us to do here is to get the Voice legislated and to work it through until it’s the best it can be.”

Originally published as Voice to Parliament on shaky ground in Far North Queensland as ‘no’ vote leads