Linda Burney proud of role in Indigenous voice campaign

Aboriginal leaders are calling for renewed emphasis on economic empowerment and self-governance in remote communities in the wake of the impending retirement of Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney in Sydney on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Aboriginal leaders are calling for renewed emphasis on economic empowerment and self-governance in remote communities in the wake of the impending retirement of Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney.

The veteran of state and federal politics, 67, on Thursday defended her role in the failed voice referendum of 2023, saying: “I am proud to have been part of it.”

Ms Burney’s critic during the voice campaign, ­oppo­sition Indigenous affairs spokes­woman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, was fast to offer an ­appreciative assessment of her political opponent’s commitment and career.

“While we have often differed in our views of how to best end Indigenous disadvantage, minister Burney’s career has been driven by a burning desire to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

“When the day comes that Indigenous Australians have the same life expectations as every other Australian, it will be in part due to minister Burney’s dedication in area of politics filled with difficult and harrowing realities.”

Prominent Indigenous Australians including Yawaru leader Peter Yu and constitutional law researcher Eddie Synot praised Ms Burney’s long public service and dedication to ending Indigenous disadvantage.

Her coming retirement has prompted serious discussion about priorities in the Albanese government’s Indigenous affairs portfolio and what Ms Burney’s successor should prioritise.

Professor Yu, vice-president of Australian National University’s First Nations portfolio, sees economic development as a way out of welfare for many Indigenous communities. “The incoming minister has an opportunity to refresh a government policy vision for First Peoples that focuses on a new relationship based on economic equity and justice,” he said.

“Indigenous people are calling for a paradigm shift in policy thinking; a new fiscal relationship so that we can be genuinely included in the economic future of this nation.”

Sean Gordon, an Indigenous leader who supported the proposal for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice, said Ms Burney’s successor should establish “local voices” in remote communities. “Governments have a role to play as enablers (but) communities must be empowered to do the heavy lifting required for long-term change,” he said.

The proposal for an Indigenous advisory body with a constitutional guarantee is one of three pillars of the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, a written request from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to their fellow Australians.

Ms Burney campaigned hard for the voice, sometimes in three states in one day. Privately, some Indigenous leaders grew concerned that the enthusiastic involvement of politicians in the Yes campaign was not as helpful as the politicians thought it was.

Reflecting on Thursday on the failure of the voice push, Ms Burney said there were silver linings: “The silver lining of 6½ million Australians saying yes, the silver lining of a new generation of young Indigenous leaders coming through, the silver lining in high (yes votes in) Aboriginal communities like Tiwi Islands, like Yuendumu, like Yarrabah, the vote was up to 92 per cent.

“So, whilst people might think it is a defeat, there are some very good things that came out of the referendum. I am proud of the Prime Minister and his leadership. I’m proud of First Nations people and I am proud to have been part of it.”