Indigenous voice referendum ‘not my loss’, Anthony Albanese declares

Anthony Albanese’s claim that his failed referendum was not a personal loss for him has sparked anger among top figures in the Yes campaign.

Anthony Albanese delivers lunches at the Bill Crews Foundation Christmas Lunch in Ashfield in Sydney’s inner west. Picture: Thomas Parrish

Anthony Albanese’s claim that his failed referendum was not a personal loss for him has sparked anger among top figures in the Yes campaign, with one Aboriginal leader indicating the remarks were proof white Australia would take no responsibility for the voice’s rejection.

The Prime Minister said on Monday the result was not “a loss for him” because he was not Indigenous and the debate was not about politicians.

He also said in an interview on Sydney radio 2GB that Aboriginal Australians disappointed by the referendum result were “used to hardship” and Labor would continue to work to close the gap.

Leading figures in the failed push for constitutional change immediately picked up on Mr ­Albanese’s remarks, with some claiming it as confirmation he believes the defeat belongs to them and not him despite Labor’s central role in the campaign.

At the Exodus Foundation in Sydney’s inner west on Monday while he was helping to serve Christmas Day lunch to the poor, Mr Albanese was asked about his year and “some big losses” such as the defeat of the voice at the ballot box last October.

“Oh, no, no, no, no, very important to call that out. I am not Indigenous so it wasn’t a loss to me,” the Labor leader said.

“That stays exactly the same the way it is. I do think that it was disappointing for First Nations people but they’re used to you know, getting the, they’re used to hardship. It’s been the case for 200 years, and they are resilient and we will continue to do what we can to provide for closing the gap.

“But it’s one of the things about this debate, it was never about politicians, it was actually about the most disadvantaged people in our society.”

One figure in the Yes ­campaign criticised Mr Albanese for claiming no sense of personal loss after championing the referendum, ­including in his election-night victory speech in May last year.

Another called on Labor to commission a review of the ­“referendum debacle” and the ­Albanese government’s role in it.

“Blacks did the work for seven years and Labor killed it,” one said.

Indigenous leader Sean ­Gordon, who supported the voice in an alliance with constitutional conservatives, agreed with Mr ­Albanese that Indigenous ­Australians were resilient people. Mr Gordon was a member of Mr Albanese’s referendum working group.

When asked about the Prime Minister’s assertion that the voice defeat was no loss for him, Mr Gordon replied that this was the issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who comprised a small percentage of the population.

“It’s the challenge of our 3.7 per cent,” Mr Gordon said.

“Regardless of the issue or the outcome, the 96.3 per cent white Australia are able to comfortably move forward without any ownership, responsibility or accountability for the result.”

The proposal for an Indigenous advisory body with a constitutional guarantee predated Mr Albanese’s prime ministership by more than a decade. It was the subject of reports and inquiries and it was the option favoured by a clear majority of Indigenous people who took part in the Uluru Dialogues held around Australia in 2016 and 2017.

Mr Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns at the Bill Crews Foundation lunch. Picture: Thomas Parrish

Polling showed Australians were in favour of the concept for some five years and remained in favour after Mr Albanese announced in May last year that he would take the voice question to a referendum.

Support for a constitutionally enshrined voice began to slide in the first half of 2023, after the Coalition parties’ formalised their opposition to it, but before the final words of the proposed amendment had been settled. Ultimately, 61 per cent of Australians voted no to the voice on referendum day.

On Monday, Peter Dutton described the voice as Mr Albanese’s project. “The PM was obsessed with the voice for the best part of 18 months,” the Opposition Leader said.

“ He told Australians they were “chicken littles” if they opposed it, and he needlessly divided Australians. It’s remarkable he’s now saying it wasn’t about him. The PM is distracted and not focused on the issues that matter.

“He should reflect on these comments about his pet project – the voice – and make life easier, not harder, for Australians. The PM was so obsessed with the voice and being overseas that he missed the opportunities in his two budgets to make decisions to relieve cost-of-living pressures. It’s really hurt Australians and they are feeling the pain Mr Albanese created.”