‘Learn English’: Anti-Voice rally raises eyebrows amid debt stoush
Controversial anti-Voice campaigner Gary Johns has continued his campaign against the referendum in bold fashion, before being called out over his views.
NSW
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Aboriginal people wanting a Voice to parliament should “learn English”, a controversial anti-Voice campaigner has declared.
“If you want a Voice, learn English. That’s your Voice,” former Labor minister Gary Johns told an audience of conservatives at the CPAC conference on Sunday.
The comments build on remarks from Mr Johns 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.
The Telegraph previously revealed Mr Johns wanted Australia to have an “Intermarriage Day” to celebrate marriage between Black and white Australians and wanted Aboriginal people to take blood tests to verify their heritage.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young condemned the comments as a “racist rant”.
“There can be no fence sitters in this vote. Either you think this nasty rubbish is OK or you don’t,” she said.
It comes as The Daily Telegraph can reveal the organisers of the multi-day conference are stuck in a debt stoush with one of the world’s biggest hotel chains with accusations the organisers still owe more than $50,000 for last year’s event.
In correspondence seen by the Telegraph between the Sheraton Grand hotel and CPAC organisers, the hotel has alleged the company owes them $57,000.
A source close to the matter verified that multiple suppliers had previously not been paid and the track record was undermining the conservative cause.
“Behaviour like this could undermine the credibility of good conservative people. When you put these big things on and get people to pay tickets but you have a trail of debt that’s nearly a year old.”
Sheraton and CPAC both confirmed they are involved in a commercial dispute.
“CPAC has provided Sheraton with clear evidence of … excessive charges and Sheraton has failed to adequately respond. Consequently, the matter will likely be resolved in court,” a spokesman for CPAC said.
Senior management at Sheridan Grand said they had been in communication with CPAC contrary to their claims.
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Originally published as ‘Learn English’: Anti-Voice rally raises eyebrows amid debt stoush
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