Anthony Albanese says Voice the ‘next step forward’ from Barunga
Read Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s words for thousands of punters at this year’s Barunga Festival, plus see all the photos from the iconic event.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to start a conversation “with anyone and everyone” on voting yes on a Voice to Parliament, hailing the referendum as the “next step forward” from the historic Barunga Statement.
In a message read out at this year’s festival — 35 years after Territory Elders handed the statement to his Labor forebear Bob Hawke — Mr Albanese said the Voice would “depend on thousands of conversations”.
“Barunga stands as milestone on Australia’s long journey for reconciliation, the referendum this year can be our next great step forward,” he said.
“All of us have a historic chance to walk together to a better, stronger and more reconciled future — and friends, it’s up to all of us.”
Reading the Prime Minister’s words to a crowd of thousands of festival goers on Saturday night, Indigenous Australian’s Minister Linda Burney said the referendum “won’t be decided by politicians in Canberra”.
“This change belongs to you, to the Australian people, constitutional recognition through a voice depends on your voice, it will depend on thousands of conversations,” she read.
“So I ask you when you leave here, start a conversation, tell your friends and family, tell your neighbours, tell anyone and everyone, ‘Vote yes for recognition and a voice, say yes to a better future’.
“Finally, I want you to imagine the Sunday after referendum day — we as a country will stand so tall we’ll be able to touch the sky.”
Ms Burney also read from a statement from Mr Hawke’s widow Blanche d’Alpuget, who said there were “many joys but also many tears in politics”.
“Bob once said to me, ‘Yunupingu is a soul in torment, he grieves for his people’ — Bob grieved too,” she said.
“His greatest disappointment as Prime Minister was that he could not deliver his promise to Yunupingu with the Indigenous people of Australia — for recognition. He loved Yunupingu and grieved that he’d let him down.
“Now all these decades later the Voice gives a chance for joy and celebration for the spirits of these two great men. Bob would want Australians to grab it with both hands.”
This year’s festival marked three-and-a-half decades since the Barunga Statement called for “a national elected Aboriginal and Islander organisation to oversee Aboriginal and Islander affairs”.
“We call on the Australian government to support Aborigines in the development of an international declaration of principles for Indigenous rights, leading to an international covenant,” it read.
“And we call on the commonwealth parliament to negotiate with us a treaty recognising our prior ownership, continued occupation and sovereignty, and affirming our human rights.”
More Coverage
‘Sore eyes for a little while’: Lia downplays OC spray risk
The CLP says it has not considered how legalising OC spray could impact the NT health system, as the Chief Minister downplays the risk of innocent Territorians being left with ‘sore eyes’.
‘Soldier, Policeman, Hero’: Zach Rolfe hired as ‘expert’ speaker for summit
Former Territory cop Zach Rolfe – who shot a 19-year-old man during a botched arrest attempt – has been signed up for a speaking gig at an upcoming summit in Sydney.