Warren Mundine reveals constant abuse almost pushed him over the edge over the Voice debate

Indigenous leader and former politician Warren Mundine has told of the abuse he has faced while campaigning against the proposed constitutional amendment.

EXCLUSIVE

Warren Mundine lets out a nervous laugh as he repeats some of the insults that have been directed his way.

Puppet. Coconut. Uncle Tom.

“I do laugh it off because it’s a way of coping with it,” he says.

The laugh masks the pain for the prominent campaigner against the proposal for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

About two months ago the abuse almost pushed him over the edge.

“I tried to commit suicide twice, it does have an effect on you,” he says, letting out another nervous laugh.

Mundine revealed he has tried to take his own life, twice. Picture: Adam Yip

As someone who’s held prominent roles on both sides of politics, Mundine is no stranger to the argy-bargy of public life.

But the debate over the Voice referendum, to be held later this year, has become particularly heated.

On social media it can be vicious.

“You only have to look at my Twitter,” he says during our interview for the upcoming Sky News documentary The Voice: Australia Decides.

“I’ve been called everything under the sun and 90 per cent of them, I don’t even know what they mean. I had to look it up in the dictionary.

“But it has been very divisive. It’s been very divisive in the Aboriginal community. It’s been very divisive in mainstream Australia, and I can’t see it getting any better.”

An example of the abuse directed towards Warren Mundine on social media. Picture: Twitter

The trolling has been relentless and much more vicious than public debate. Picture: Twitter

Mundine, who was the Chair of Tony Abbott’s Indigenous Advisory Council when Mr Abbott was Prime Minister, supports constitutional recognition but believes enshrining the Voice in the constitution is an unnecessary and potentially dangerous step.

“I think it’s going to be a lot stronger than they are saying,” he says.

“They’re saying it’s only an advisory group, they’re only going to advise the governments. Well why do you need it in the constitution?”

In the past two months Mundine has travelled through New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, campaigning for the NO case. Trips to Perth and Darwin are on the immediate horizon.

Mundine supports an Indigenous Advisory Council, but not a constitutional Voice. Picture: Adam Yip.

He believes the No case is cutting through, largely because the government has failed to provide details on what the Voice would look like and how it would work.

But the campaign has been rough going at times and has taken a personal toll.

“The one I cop the most is that I’m just looking after my own money,” he says.

“They say ‘mining’s got you in their pocket’, and I say ‘the mining industry’s supporting the Yes campaign’.”

Mundine has sought professional help to deal with his demons as the campaign moves into full swing.

But he is more concerned for fellow No campaigner, Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Price.

Mundine shared his experience in an upcoming Sky News documentary, The Voice: Australia Decides. Picture: Sky News

Many of the comments are cruel and deeply personal. Picture: Twitter

“I do really worry about what could happen to her,” he says.

“That’s why I’m very careful about what I do and how I talk with her.

“And then, of course, you’ve seen what happened to Stan Grant, so it does concern me that it could really split Australian society.”

He says he and Price have been called “race traders”, referencing a photoshopped picture of them that was posted on social media.

“They had a photo of Prince William and Kate at their wedding and they cut the heads off and put me and Jacinta’s head on it and they had King and Queen of Coconut Island,” he says.

A “coconut” is a derogatory term used by some activists to describe Aboriginal people who support conservative policies, accusing them of being black on the outside and white in the middle.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a fellow ‘No’ campaigner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mundine and Price have both been in the line of fire. Picture: Twitter

It is not only No campaigners who have been subjected to racist and offensive abuse.

A Queensland University of Technology analysis in May found racial abuse was occurring on both sides, but there was considerably more hate speech and offensive language being sent from Twitter accounts supporting the No side.

Earlier this month the Nine Entertainment Company apologised for an advertisement published in the Australian Financial Review authorised by Advance Australia that featured a full-page cartoon depicting Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo appearing to shuffle or dance as he received a handout from Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney.

Mayo, who spoke to Sky News before the advertisement was published, says abuse and misinformation have been rife during the campaign.

“I think the only thing that can beat us is confusion and fear,” he says.

“And I think that is what the No campaign are trying to do. Making this sound like it’s something about special rights. Ignoring that advice from experts.

“Saying that this is something that is going to govern people, or take their backyards. That old trope.”

Warren Mundine has revealed how the Voice debate has affected his health. Picture: Adam Yip

Abusive comments directed at public figures on social media have become common. But there’s often an extra level of venom directed at prominent Indigenous Australians.

Senator Price has shared threatening messages sent to her through the Country Liberal Party’s website that are too offensive to be published.

And last week Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe revealed she had received death threats.

“There are a lot of people out there who don’t want me in parliament, who don’t want me alive,” she told The Project.

“I’ve felt very unsafe the last few weeks and until things are resolved then I continue to feel unsafe and it’s s**t.

“It’s really horrible not feeling safe in your everyday life just because of the things you do in your job that are genuinely to make this country a better place.”

ASIO’s Mike Burgess warned the debate could incite violence. Picture: Sean Davey

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has warned the Voice campaign could incite violence.

“Unfortunately we do expect people, as they express their views and exchange their views online, that might inflame some people,” he told a Senate estimates hearing in May.

“There might be some protest and counter protest, and some of that might result in spontaneous violence.”

Mundine shares these concerns.

“I’m concerned that those threats and those words can turn into actions,” he says.

This time he’s not laughing.

*Matt Cunningham is the Sky News Northern Australia Correspondent. The Voice: Australia Decides premieres at 8pm AEDT Tuesday on Sky News Australia.

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Originally published as Warren Mundine reveals constant abuse almost pushed him over the edge over the Voice debate