Bush Summit: Kimberley leader Lawford Benning ‘not too fussed’ over Indigenous voice to parliament vote

One of the Kimberley’s most senior Indigenous leaders says he is ‘not too fussed’ whether the voice referendum succeeds or fails.

MG Corporation executive chair Lawford Benning on Monday. Picture: Philip Gostelow

One of the Kimberley’s most senior Indigenous leaders says he is “not too fussed” whether the voice referendum succeeds or fails, but has asked Australians to be sure they can look in the mirror and own their decision.

MG Corporation executive chair Lawford Benning, whose corporation represents the interests of Miriuwung and Gajerrong traditional owners in the east Kimberley, is committed to economic development that makes the most of his people’s Native Title rights. MG is part of The East Kimberley Clean Energy Project involving a giant 950-megawatt solar farm.

Mr Benning told the Bush Summit in Perth on Monday that his people would live with whatever Australians decided about whether to amend the constitution to guarantee an Indigenous voice to parliament.

“Whatever decision they make it is going to be the one that we live with. If it’s yes, we all got to run with it. If it’s no, we got to run with it,” he said.

“To me, look, I am not too fussed. I believe it’s going to happen on the day and it is going to show its true colours.

“It is the decision that is going to be made by the individual.

“For every one of them that is out there, they got to look in the mirror, they got to own their conviction yes or no.”

Mr Benning was among Indigenous leaders who met with Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney when she visited his home town of Kununurra for three days in July. Ms Burney heard from leaders on issues including youth crime and the scourge of alcohol.

Earlier at the summit, Resources Minister Madeleine King urged private companies not already behind the voice to join the case for yes. “We encourage the private sector to form genuine partnerships with Indigenous communities as many have been doing for many years,” Ms King said.

She said WA was a good example of how listening to Aboriginal people led to improvements.

Asked about the voice, WA Pastoralists and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook said: “We want something better, much better.”