No campaign slammed as ‘racist’ ahead of Jacinta Price’s Brisbane rally

Supporters of The Voice referendum are planning to crash Jacinta Price’s no rally in Brisbane tonight, describing the views as “racist”.

Vocal campaigners from each side of the voice referendum will intercept tonight when a counter-protest rallies at an event held by prominent no supporter Jacinta Price.

The Senator will hold a ‘vote no’ event in Brisbane later this afternoon, where the leading campaigner’s supporters will clash with a rally who have fiercely opposed Ms Price’s controversial views.

The counter-protest, supported by Mununjali activist Will Sim, say they plan to call out problematic views from the no campaign which they described as racist.

In a Tiktok video promoting the rally, Mr Sim said the no movement was being led by “hard right freaks”.

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

“Jacinta Price the other week, at the National Press Club, said that colonisation only had a positive impact on indigenous people,” he said on the social media platform.

“This is the politics of the no campaign – they want to whip up anti-indigenous racism.”

Mr Sim, who urged supporters to join the group at the Royal International Convention Centre on Wednesday evening, said the no campaign was led by “hard right freaks”.

“Join us on Wednesday 27 September at 6pm to show … her that Brisbane is an anti-racist town.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, a vocal supporter of the yes campaign, urged those attending rallies to be respectful.

“We do live in a democracy where people have different views,” she said.

“The thing I found really disappointing about this is just the lies that are being peddled by some parts of the no campaign about what this will mean for our community.

“It is simply an advisory body to advise and give non-binding advice on matters that affect First Nations people and I would really urge Queenslanders to do their own research before casting their vote on the 14th.

Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman.

“It is absolutely appalling that (federal Opposition Leader) Peter Dutton and others campaigning on saying ‘if you don’t know, vote no’ – we don’t have to do a lot in this democracy to take part in votes from time to time.

“So please find out what you can about what this referendum is about – it is about the establishment of an advisory body that gives non-binding advice to the government on issues that affect First Nations people.

“That’s the extent of it.”

When addressing the National Press Club after Professor Marcia Langton accused no supporters of their campaign being steeped in racism, Ms Price said it “what would be ­racist is segmenting our nation into ‘us’ and ‘them’.”

Aboriginal activist and academic Marcia Langton.

“You have to say it would also be stupidity to divide a nation when it has been growing ever more cohesive,” she said according to a report from The Australian.

“To split it along fractures of race rather than try to bring it closer together.

“My hope is that, after October 14, after defeating this voice of division, we can bring accountability to existing structures, and we can get away from assuming inner-city activists speak for all Aboriginals, and back to focusing on the real ­issues: education, employment, economic participation and safety from violence and sexual assault.”