Price’s real-world view seen as a threat in voice debate

For some proponents of an Indigenous voice to parliament, a respected, intelligent and forceful Indigenous person, experienced in the reality of remote communities, who vocally and publicly doubts the efficacy of such a voice, is considered a threat.

Therefore the powerful, articulate Warlpiri-Celtic woman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price – who characterises the voice as symbolic virtue-signalling rather than real-world tackling of the entrenched problems of Indigenous communities – must be neutralised. Apparently taking it on himself to lead the charge is “woke columnist Peter FitzSimons” in an interview that seems to have become somewhat derailed and was followed by a bombardment of threatening texts (“Leave me alone: Price pleads with ‘bully’ FitzSimons”, 9/8).

If only those designated with the label “woke” really were “woke” – alert and alive to reality – they might heed Price’s words. Words born from hard, grounded knowledge of experience.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

Has Peter FitzSimons ever asked Indigenous leaders who happen to agree with him whether they are misusing their platform and hurting Indigenous causes or whether they are absolutely sure they are saying and doing the right thing?

What FitzSimons actually revealed is that the so-called voice is likely to ignore important voices like those of Price because her views on Indigenous issues and priorities don’t align with the orthodoxy that is spouted in the salons of Sydney’s lower north shore.

Richard Shankland, Pymble, NSW

Peter FitzSimons, if you don’t want to be accused of bullying perhaps you should consider your words before speaking; instead of telling someone to withdraw their words because they “know it’s nonsense”, you could say: “That is not my recollection of the conversation.” The former is verballing someone while the latter is conciliatory.

Suzanne Barnett, Toolern Vale, Vic

Peter FitzSimons is so predictable. He has all the right answers, plus he has seen the light on the sins of the world, major and minor, and apparently never ventures there – thus, he’s perfectly placed to lecture the rest of us on where we’re going wrong, especially should we heed the “old man in the sky”.

It’s clear from the tone of his questions to Jacinta Price that he wasn’t predisposed to give Price a receptive hearing or to respect her opinions as at least as legitimate as his.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

I am becoming very concerned for the future of senator Jacinta Price. Ever since she decided to stand for the Senate the activist knives of the leftist mainstream and social media have been targeting her. This would never be allowed to happen to a woman from the green left.

Where are those who should be supporting Price even within her own political party? At least she has a cohort of Indigenous folk supporting her but there are few non-Indigenous going in to bat for her.

The fact Peter FitzSimons has decided to enter the fray is a significant worry. The green left got rid of Nicolle Flint in South Australia in the most shameful of ways. Unless Price is given some strong support from her allies and others, I fear she will go the same way as Flint, although I do have great confidence in her ability to more than match her political enemies. She already has done much more for Indigenous folk in outback settlements than city-based elite activists like FitzSimons and his privileged crew. Fancy sitting in a multimillion-dollar mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour sipping an exclusive wine with multi -millionaire friends and thinking that you have all the answers to the problems of outback Indigenous people and Indigenous people in general. Now that is hubris on steroids.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

You know the old saying, Peter FitzSimons, when you’re in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging. At present, you’re doing a great job for the No case. All we need now is another celebrity activist to help you out and dig the hole a bit deeper.

Tom Smith, Bowral, NSW

Looks like Jacinta Price can also be crossed off Peter FitzSimons’ Australia Day BBQ list.

Michael Afaras, Henley, NSW