Backlash over Gary Johns’ Voice to parliament comments grows

Senior figures from within the No camp have come out to condemn an anti-Voice campaigner over claims Aboriginal people should “learn English” if they want a Voice.

Senior political figures from all sides have condemned a controversial anti-Voice campaigner over comments made at last weekend’s conservative CPAC conference.

Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt said he agreed with Nationals leader David Littleproud’s condemnation of recent comments made by former Labor minister Gary Johns telling Aboriginal people to “learn English” if they want a Voice.

“I don’t often agree with David Littleproud but he’s right about No campaigner Gary Johns’ constant hatred towards Indigenous Australians,” he wrote on social media.

“We don’t need this kind of imported right-wing extremism in modern Australia. If Johns isn’t good enough for the Nationals then he’s not good enough for the No campaign.”

Mr Watt called for the No campaign to “show they’re serious about having a calm, respectful debate and sack Johns”.

Mr Littleproud said the comments were not helping “any cause whatsoever”.

“It’s inappropriate. I mean, I don’t see how that advances any cause whatsoever. The Nationals have tried to create an environment for an intellectual conversation about the Voice, no matter what you philosophically believe,” he said on Tuesday.

“In our point of view, our job as political leaders (and) as representatives is to create the right environment. I’m proud of what we’ve done so far.”

Gary Johns’ comments have been condemned. Picture: David Swift

Nationals Leader David Littleproud. Picture: Martin Ollman

His comments build on criticism from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who said he was concerned about Mr Johns’ record of comments on Aboriginal policies.

The Daily Telegraph previously revealed Mr Johns wanted to create an “Intermarriage Day” as a public holiday to celebrate marriage between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, urge Aboriginal people to stop identifying as such on government forms and to enforce blood tests for checking Aboriginality.

“I’m concerned about a whole range of comments that Gary Johns has made, not just on the weekend, but over a long period of time when it comes to failure to show any respect for Indigenous Australians. The fact that he’d been given a significant role in the No campaign is of concern,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Johns’ CPAC comments build on remarks that Australia should not try to preserve Aboriginal languages.

“Only a linguist would worry about losing ancient languages,” he wrote in his book the Burden of Culture.

“Aborigines do not need to revive dead language, they do not need therapy to prove their worth, they need to learn English and skills so they can be truly self-determining.”

Mr Johns clarified that Aboriginal people are entitled to maintain their language but it should not be a government responsibility.

Originally published as Backlash over Gary Johns’ Voice to parliament comments grows