False claims from Bundaberg Voice event aired on national radio

Eyewitnesses to a Yes23 event in regional Queensland have debunked a claim made on national radio by an Indigenous opponent to the Voice that he was told to ‘sit down and shut up’ for disagreeing with it.

A man who attended the Bundaberg Yes23 event made false claims on the Ben Fordham Live radio show that he was told to ‘sit down and shut up’ for being critical of the Voice.

An exchange between the Yes23 panel and an audience member at the Bundaberg Yarn for the Voice on Wednesday escalated, with the man claiming during a call-in to national radio he was told to “sit down and shut up”.

Butchulla and Bundjalung man Grant Appo called 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live show on Thursday, July 27, and said he was told to “sit down and shut up” after asking questions critical of the Voice at the event.

“You’re an Aboriginal man, you were trying to use your voice, and you were told to shut up?” asked Mr Fordham asked.

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“I was told to sit down and shut up, that’s right Ben,” Mr Appo said.

Mr Appo claimed the panellists said Indigenous members of parliament did not “have the right” to speak on behalf of Indigenous people, and that the Taribelag Bunda nation, traditional owners of the Bundaberg region, had not been acknowledged in the Welcome to Country at the Voice event.

Butchulla and Bundjalung man Grant Appo falsely claimed he was told to “sit down and shut up” during an exchange that lasted around 13 minutes during the Q&A section of the Bundaberg Yarn for the Voice event.

He entered the event, which was attended by NewsMail, about five minutes after it had started, well after the Welcome to Country in which the Taribelag Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang and Bailai nations were acknowledged.

The exchange referred to by Mr Appo on 2GB came during the Q&A section of the event, following a 35 -presentation by Yes advocates Thomas Mayo and Jade Appo-Ritchie.

Mr Appo made a series of questions and statements, including that Indigenous people already had representation in parliament in the form of 11 Indigenous MPs and senators in the upper and lower houses.

“At the moment, we have 11 Indigenous members in parliament; to me, that kind of sounds like a Voice,” he said.

Ms Appo-Ritchie said the fact that there were 11 Indigenous politicians in parliament should be “celebrated”, but pointed out that their role in parliament was to represent their constituents rather than the interests of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

At no point was Ms Appo-Ritchie heard to say Indigenous members of parliament “do not have the right” to speak on behalf of Indigenous people, as claimed by Mr Appo.

The Bundaberg Yarn for the Voice event at the Bundaberg Multiplex was arranged by Yes23 in partnership with the Port Curtis Coral Coast Trust.

“Their job is not to be independent, and represent all matters that are affecting Indigenous people,” Ms Appo-Ritchie said.

“Their job is to represent the constituents in their electorate, and they also have to represent their parties. So if their parties don’t align with things that are actually going to make a difference for us, which way are they going to go?”

As Ms Appo-Ritchie continued to respond to his questions, Mr Appo stood up and tried to interject.

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Aunty Jill, an Elder sitting in the front row, then stood up and said “please sit down” to Mr Appo.

As Mr Appo continued to talk, Aunty Jill asked him again to sit down, saying “please sit down, you’ve had your say”.

“You’re defrauding the people, I’ll let you know that,” Mr Appo said.

“That’s not right, that’s so wrong,” Aunty Jill replied.

Mr Appo was not told to “sit down and shut up” by Aunty Jill or any of the panel as he claimed on 2GB.

Former Liberal MP Pat Farmer, who passed through Bundaberg on his Run For The Voice tour around Australia in support of the Voice, joined panellists Thomas Mayo and Jade Appo-Ritchie on the stage at the conclusion of the event.

NewsMail has provided a recording and transcript of the event to the producers of the Ben Fordham Live show.

A Yes23 campaign spokesperson said Mr Appo was given ample opportunity to speak, and the panel members “respectfully” moderated the event to ensure all attendees were given a chance to ask questions.

“Ye23 encourages all Australians to attend community events to learn more about the referendum, regardless of whether they intend to vote yes, no or are still making up their mind,” the spokesperson said.

“Mr Appo’s appearance at the forum in Bundaberg on Wednesday night was welcome, however we do not accept the version of events that have been reported.

“Mr Appo was given the opportunity to make a statement and ask multiple questions to the panel members who happily answered the questions.

“The reality with these community forums is that moderators have to respectfully ensure that all attendees are given the opportunity to have their say.

“This requires respectful and appropriate moderation at all times.”