January
Extend, don’t change the date of Australia Day
There is a way to recognise our Indigenous heritage, British foundations and immigrant history by marking them over two days – the 25th and 26th of January.
August 2024
NT wipeout should spark real ‘closing the gap’ discussion
Ideally, the prominent role Indigenous policy will play in two critical NT federal seats would prompt much-needed discussion of Noel Pearson’s responsibility agenda.
Noel Pearson appointed to Fortescue board
This is the Indigenous leader’s first public move following his keeping a low profile since the defeat of the Voice to parliament referendum in October.
June 2024
Give native title trust fund billions to the Future Fund: Pearson
Cape York Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says existing structures often involve opaque discretionary trusts that either lock up money too tightly or suffer from the funds being squandered and not invested wisely.
‘Disgraceful’ government neglect costs Indigenous funds $1b
Two big government funds set up to benefit Indigenous people without native title rights were shackled for decades by the investment equivalent of stuffing money under a mattress.
December 2023
‘Hatred of politicians’ killed the Voice: Megan Davis
A key architect of the Voice referendum says racism played a role but was not as decisive as the public’s “hatred for politicians” and rejected claims symbolic recognition would have won Coalition support.
October 2023
The hard cost of a failed referendum
The resounding defeat of the Voice referendum leaves many Indigenous leaders disillusioned and Yes voters broken-hearted, but Anthony Albanese still argues it was the right thing to do.
Australians didn’t want a new, black elite
Leaders in politics, business, the law and academia wrongly believed they could use their power to help a profoundly disadvantaged group.
The referendum takes me back to a grim moment 30 years ago
A No vote will change the way we see ourselves, and send the most unloving of messages to Indigenous Australians.
Pearson puts downbeat comments down to ‘emotions’
Noel Pearson has described his candid remarks about the Voice referendum at a private event as “emotions you have along the way”.
It’s finally time to decide on the Voice
A long fight for the Uluru Statement from the Heart will live or die when millions of Australians cast their vote. Polls suggest most people will vote against it.
Seems nothing can melt No-vote hearts: Pearson
Leading Yes campaigner Noel Pearson urges supporters to maintain hope but says Saturday’s referendum appears lost and Australia was a “hard country now”.
Why is Noel Pearson upset with Murray Gleeson?
The Indigenous leader says the former chief justice deserted the Voice in its ‘hour of need’.
The nine moments that defined the Voice vote
From the high of Anthony Albanese’s election night victory speech to the lows of toxic politics and disinformation, these moments shaped Australia’s referendum choice.
Don’t be surprised if ethnic communities vote No
If polls are correct about the triumph of the No vote, expect large numbers of multicultural voters to be part of the revolt against establishment bodies.
The final countdown: Australia votes on the Voice
This week on the The Fin podcast, political correspondent Tom McIlroy and political editor Phillip Coorey on what the result is likely to be, where the campaign will be won and lost and what happens next.
Women elders stage last-minute Voice intervention
Hundreds of people gathered in the centre of Alice Springs on Wednesday, with traditional owners calling opposition to constitutional recognition a fog of confusion and division.
‘Hell of a journey’: 14,500km Voice run ends at Uluru
The former Liberal MP completes 14,500-kilometre run supporting Indigenous constitutional recognition.
Even Indigenous support for Voice may be failing
The No vote is ahead in the five federal electorates with the largest Indigenous populations as a proportion of voters, new polling says.
Tracking the Voice decline starts with Albanese
Having made a hot mess of the referendum, Albanese is now offering to work with the opposition in the unlikely event the Yes case wins. It’s all a year too late.