‘Wake up Australia’: Elder’s harsh message ahead of Voice vote

Australia has “been asleep since the 1967 referendum” about why the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is not closing, a Queensland elder says ahead of the referendum.

Australia has “been asleep since the 1967 referendum” about why the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is not closing, a Queensland elder says ahead of Saturday’s referendum on the Voice to Parliament.

Townsville-based Dr Gracelyn Smallwood, a Birri Gubba woman and professor at James Cook University, was 17 years old at the time of the 1967 referendum, which asked voters whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be counted as part of the population and if the Commonwealth should be able to make laws for them. Those changes to the Constitution were supported by more than 90 per cent of the country.

Dr Smallwood urged Australians to do their research ahead of the Voice referendum, saying

there was a lot of misinformation driving people to vote “no”.

Professor Gracelyn Smallwood. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/The Australian

“The gap is widening, not closing, and our people have diseases that have been wiped out in the first world,” Dr Smallwood said.

“People were worried that if Mabo went through they would have to give up their properties. Well, none of that happened.

“I’m encouraging people to vote “yes”, but there’s no pressure, as long as you do your research.”

The 2022 Closing the Gap report found the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians was widening in areas, including the number of children who are ready for school, adult incarcerations rates, children in out-of-home care and deaths by suicide.

She said the 1967 referendum had been a focal point in recognising First Nations people, but now it was time to take the next step.

“People have been asleep since the 1967 referendum about why the gap is not closing,” Dr Smallwood said.

“My life expectancy is 60 years and I’m 72. We can’t wait any longer.

“Whether it’s yes or no, this is waking Australia up. When the oldies take off to the Dreamtime or spiritual world, there’s a new batch of young people, black and white, who will keep doing their research and hopefully come together.”

Lineup for early voting in the Voice referendum at Brisbane City Hall. Picture: Liam Kidston

She said programs intended to improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians were failing but were still getting government funding, and that a Voice could give advice to parliament on culturally-appropriate programs that would get results.

“It’s not going to change things overnight. Certainly not in my time, but it’s a start,” she said.

“I believe the Voice is a pathway to treaty. We need to leave something for our children and grandchildren.”

The referendum on the Voice will be held on Saturday, October 14.

Originally published as ‘Wake up Australia’: Elder’s harsh message ahead of Voice vote