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.
What now? The referendum’s overwhelming No vote is not a national rejection of constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians, although this will become the default view. It is instead a most emphatic rejection of the particular form asked for by key Indigenous leaders and refined by the prime minister in the proposal for the Voice.
But the practical result will be the same – no to both. That’s the hard price of failure.
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Jennifer Hewett is the national affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com
