Father Frank Brennan: Jesuit priest comes to Top End, launches book.

Jesuit priest Frank Brennan says Darwin was a fitting location to launch his book which examines why the Voice referendum failed – and what Territorians must do to support each other.

Father Frank Brennan launching his new book at the Darwin Bookshop.

A key stakeholder responsible for guiding the Indigenous Voice to parliament has arrived in the Top End with a view to continue conversation around 2023’s failed referendum.

Jesuit priest, academic, and human rights lawyer Father Frank Brennan touched down in Darwin this week to launch his new book Lessons from Our Failure to Build a Constitutional Bridge in the 2023 Referendum.

On Monday, Father Brennan addressed a small gathering at The Bookshop Darwin to explain his book aimed on shedding light on the mistakes associated with the ‘yes’ campaign.

Father Frank Brennan (left), Colin McDonald (centre) and Bishop Charles Gauci (right). Picture: The Bookshop Darwin.

Father Brennan told the NT News the book was particularly relevant in the Territory and said he hoped locals would reflect upon the divisive referendum, regardless of how they voted.

“We’ve got to build a bridge,” he said.

“The Territory generally voted the same way as Australia – that is 60 (per cent No vote) 40 (per cent Yes), whereas the remote communities here voted well over 90 per cent so there is that divide.

“There is an acute sense of disempowerment in remote Aboriginal communities and I think there is still a sense that we don’t know the way forward.”

Father Brennan said his latest publication examined key issues that he believed contributed to the referendum’s downfall – including the lack of bipartisanship at the federal level.

Father Frank Brennan says he hopes Territorians will take interest in the book regardless of how they voted.

Father Brennan said it was possible that a proposal to amend the constitution could occur again, however it would require a different approach.

“If we want to amend the Australian constitution in the future for the wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians it’s got to be a two-step process – first step is complete respect for Aboriginal self-determination,” he said.

“Then it has to go to a broad ranging national people’s convention, or else a very transparent parliamentary process, so that you’ve got everyone on board saying ‘yes, we’ll run that’.”

Father Brennan said it was critical that Territorians support those who felt discouraged by the referendum.

“When I was here in Darwin during the campaign, one Aboriginal woman said to me that if the vote was no she would feel her mob would feel rejected once again,” he said.

“I think those of us who are not Indigenous, particularly here in the Territory, have to admit that there is a very genuine perception, feeling and experience and we’ve got to meet people and take think things forward together.”