Townsville Indigenous leader Gracelyn Smallwood reacts to Voice loss

A prominent Indigenous leader says “nothing has changed for Black Australia” following the overwhelming rejection of the Voice in Queensland.

Townsville-based Dr Gracelyn Smallwood, a Birri Gubba woman and professor at James Cook University, congratulated the scores of Australians who voted Yes for the constitutional change. Picture: Evan Morgan

A prominent Indigenous leader says “nothing has changed for Black Australia” following the overwhelming rejection of the Voice in Queensland.

Townsville-based Dr Gracelyn Smallwood, a Birri Gubba woman and professor at James Cook University, congratulated the scores of Australians who voted Yes for the constitutional change.

“It’s most important that we thank all the millions of people who voted Yes to the Voice across Australia, it’s obvious that they’ve done their homework,” Dr Smallwood said.

“These people are true believers and they believe in a reconciled Australia where the lives of black and white entwine in harmony.”

The vastly experienced Indigenous human rights campaigner said, however, that there was no sugar-coating the result, particularly in North Queensland where about 80 per cent of the electorate voted ‘No’.

“This is a defeat for decency and a victory for fearmongering, lies and betrayal.”

She said the “struggle for a better Australia will continue until my dying breath, which I have been doing for almost 60 years”.

“This will not change our life’s mission, the enemies of reconciliation have had a huge victory but this is not the end of the struggle for justice,” she said.

“The First Nation’s people of this land have survived for over 60,000 years, we will endure and in the end we will have a reconciled Australia as I believe young black and white Australians will join together in unity for truth and reconciliation.”

Dr Smallwood said it would be impossible to change the mindsets of older Australians but once more young people learned the shocking truth about the impacts of colonisation, including the genocide, institutional rape and racism, there would be hope for change.

“The younger generation can hold their heads high, black and white, because the true history is coming out and there will be reconciliation with the truth,” she said.

“So where to next? We need politicians to grow up … and they should not be elected until they know the true history of their country.”

Alan Dalton and Phil Yellup vote at Mundingburra State School, Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Some 68 per cent of Queenslanders voted against the proposed constitutional change, with only three inner-city Brisbane seats backing the Voice.

In stark contrast, North Queenslanders overpoweringly voted No.

In the vast predominantly rural Kennedy electorate, which encompasses parts of the Cairns, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers, Townsville and Burdekin councils, 80.59 per cent voted against the Voice, with 75.76 per cent opposed in Herbert, which also extends to include Palm Island.

The polling booth in Palm Island itself, Queensland’s largest discrete Indigenous community, voted 74.7 per cent Yes.

Just under half of Palm Island’s enrolled voters — 432 — cast a vote on the island on Saturday, with hundreds of island residents in Townsville at a rugby league carnival.

The Division of Dawson, which consists of parts of the Townsville, Burdekin, Mackay and Whitsunday councils, was 81 per cent opposed.

Aboriginal Elder Florence Onus at Hermit Park State School. Picture: Evan Morgan

Originally published as Townsville Indigenous leader Gracelyn Smallwood reacts to Voice loss