Aboriginal elders and leaders share emotional Voice message: ‘We can pass down what we need to pass down’

Aboriginal elders and leaders say they are disappointed after the landslide no vote – but have vowed to turn their minds to the future.

Aboriginal elders and leaders say they are shocked and disappointed in the result of the Voice to Parliament referendum – but have vowed to turn their minds to the future as they continue work to improve outcomes for First Nations people.

Despite the hopes of the Yes campaign and several visits from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, South Australians voted 64-36 per cent against the proposed change to the constitution.

After Queensland, it was the second strongest No result in the country – with all six states voting to reject the Voice.

But results from remote polling vans and booths showed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people strongly supported the Voice across the Northern Territory, far north Queensland, the Gulf and Central Australia.

Uncle Moogy performing a welcoming smoking ceremony at the Voice State Ceremony Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna Elder Major Moogy Sumner said the scale of the defeat had come as a shock.

He said he believed the referendum had failed because “people made the Voice into something that it wasn’t”.

“They made it into something that was going to be bad and made out that Aboriginal people were going to use it to take people’s homes away,” he said.

“It’s a scary story – we’ve had them for thousands and thousands of years. People got scared.”

Mr Sumner, who believes a similar proposal will again arise eventually, said it was now important to focus on the future.

“I just hope that everyone gets on with their lives,” he said.

“It’s going to be hard to forget, but forget about it and move on. I will be. I’ll still be doing the stuff that I do, the things that we’ve done for thousands of years.”

Kaurna elder Lynette Crocker with the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islands flag. Picture: Mark Brake

Kaurna Elder Ngukiburka Lynette Crocker said Aboriginal communities had been left feeling tired and weary by the prolonged referendum campaign.

“What this has done has raised the feeling of unfinished business and unfinished business is very emotional for people,” she said.

She called for the nation to now turn its attention to a treaty process.

“I still feel that with a treaty, and elders coming together … we can pass down what we need to pass down,” she said.

“There is no one in the world like the Aboriginal people and Australians should be thankful that they live in a space where they can have interaction with Aboriginal people.”

Senior Kaurna and Narrunga man Mickey Kumatpi Marrytyu O’Brien said after spending a week away overseas at an international conference it “was not a nice feeling” to arrive back to a no result.

He said he left with “some feeling of hope knowing SA to be the first state to provide a Voice for First Nations peoples”.

“I am at a loss,” he said.

“It is a sad day to live in a nation where I may never see our First Nations people be finally recognised in our constitution,” Mr O’Brien said.

”The only place now is to heal a nation again and hopefully now work towards a treaty as we are still the only commonwealth nation in the world without a Treaty with its First Nations people.”

Kaurna Elder Uncle Frank Wanganeen. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Kaurna and Nurungga man Frank Wangutya Wanganeen said the only word he could use to describe the referendum result was “disappointing”.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen (now) … I don’t know” he said.

“We’ll regather ourselves and wait for the next opportunity.”

Mr Wanganeen said he “ideally” would’ve like to have seen the Voice enshrined in the Constitution but he said he was happy to see it legislated in South Australia.

The Voice was put forward as a measure to help the government “close the gap” in outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher and Commissioner for first nations Voice Dale Agius at Victoria Square. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Attorney-General Kyam Maher said all Aboriginal Affairs ministers from across Australia would continue their work in that space through their membership of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap.

“I look forward to continuing that work with renewed vigour,” he said.

He added that the state Voice to Parliament would also advise the South Australian government on how to “do better” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

SA Voice Commissioner Dale Agius said while the referendum campaign “will take its toll” on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, there was a sense of excitement about the start-up of the state Voice.

“(Voice representatives) will be setting a tone on how communities can articulate their issues that are important to them to our high-level decision-makers,” he said.

“And, obviously, with more information that is presented to our decision-makers, it’s hopeful that they get better outcomes.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said “the Australian people have spoken clearly” and it was time for the federal government to get on with the task of closing the gap – “albeit in a different form”.

He acknowledged that the lack of bipartisan support for constitutional change made the referendum “very unlikely to get up”.

But he did not agree that the poll had left Australians divided.

“I think that people being able to go to the ballot box and exercise their will, through that precious right to vote, is something we should celebrate,” he said.

“I don’t think it drives division through the heart of the nation.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it was important to remember that Australians voted against constitutional change.

“Australians did not vote against closing the gap and the great majority of Australians support reconciliation in this country,” she said.

Originally published as Aboriginal elders and leaders share emotional Voice message: ‘We can pass down what we need to pass down’