As heat of Australia Day cools, PM must reclaim narrative

Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Thursday. Australia. Picture: Getty Images

The great divide emerging in ­response to Anthony Albanese’s referendum to enshrine a constitutional Indigenous voice to parliament threatens to widen unless the government reclaims control of the narrative.

There’s only so much rhetoric and doublespeak that voters will tolerate and because winning support for an Indigenous voice to parliament was a promise made by the Prime Minister, he cannot blame the Coalition or the Greens if it fails.

Albanese, who is feeling the heat for the first time since winning last year’s election with a historically low 32.6 per cent primary vote, must prove his leadership credentials and carry support across the board.

The violent scenes in Alice Springs shattered hopes inside government ranks that January 26, which is now dominated by ­Invasion Day marches and private and public sector pushes to not celebrate Australia Day, could prove a unifying force for the Yes vote.

At Invasion Day rallies across the nation, protesters held up signs and urged each other to vote No.

Among the crowds of Indigenous, white, multicultural, young and old Australians, there was cynicism about the merits of a voice to parliament. Others supported constitutional recognition and stronger support for Indigenous Australians.

Deep societal divisions are replicated in different ways across the country. A person’s individual experience will inform their position. Those in the cities think differently to those in the bush. ­Indigenous Australians will have competing views. And young and old will ­approach the referendum from polar opposites.

Albanese argues more work is being done and when released ahead of the referendum will help voters better understand the purpose of the voice and how it will provide real action for Indigenous Australians.

But at the same time the government is saying how difficult it is to win referendums, that defeat will set back reconciliation for ­decades and that the parliament ultimately has power over a voice advisory body.

Many Australians are confused and won’t take lightly to being told that the process is straightforward, minimalist and not controversial.

Inside the left-wing Greens, radical Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe is demanding a treaty ­because Indigenous Australians ­“deserve better than an advisory body”. Those who believe the treaty-first message is not resonating among the Greens base and Indigenous communities are wrong.

The divisions inside the Greens have more to do with the fact the party has four lower house seats and wants more. They will tread carefully to retain their foothold in the House of Representatives and know their support is needed to pass legislation in the Senate.

While the heat of Australia Day will pass, Albanese has plenty of work to do to bring the nation ­together and ensure his key election promise does not turn into a political disaster.