Truth-telling set to fill Voice gap as Leeser urges PM to step up

A minimalist, community-led plan to “tell the truth” about Indigenous dispossession is envisioned by the Albanese government to fill the void on reconciliation after its crushing Voice referendum loss.

Truth-telling is one of the three key elements of reform proposed by the Uluru Statement from the Heart – the influential Indigenous-authored document that spawned the Voice proposal.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the retiring Brendan O’Connor (left) and Linda Burney on Thursday.Credit: AAP

According to government sources speaking anonymously to detail private thinking, Labor views a program to educate Australians about Indigenous history as less politically contentious than a treaty, the statement’s third component.

As retiring Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney declared history would look kindly upon the Voice effort and Liberal MP Julian Leeser lamented the “national silence” that has existed since its defeat, this masthead has learnt Labor favours a truth-telling model led by local Indigenous groups unearthing local histories to eventually form a national story of Aboriginal Australia.

This approach would contrast with truth-telling models such as that in Victoria, where the state Labor government has shunned a number of the sometimes contentious policy recommendations by the royal commission-style inquiry it established.

Anthony Albanese will give a speech next weekend at the Garma festival, which in past years was the setting for key speeches outlining details of the referendum.

The sources said the prime minister would emphasise economic empowerment and a $700 million remote jobs program at the annual First Nations event. He is not expected to announce major symbolic steps or a pathway towards reconciliation as the government continues to grapple with the damage done to its Indigenous agenda by the referendum.

Burney, in a press conference on Thursday announcing her resignation after two years as minister, said: “For me, the issue of truth-telling is not about a judicial process.

“It’s about bringing people together and bringing people with you.”

The 67-year-old fought back tears and said history would look kindly upon Labor’s attempt to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to parliament in the Constitution.

“Of course, the Voice referendum, as the prime minister said, didn’t deliver the outcome we had hoped, but I think history will treat it kindly. But I know in my heart, I gave all that I could to close the gap and to advance reconciliation,” she said.

“Progress doesn’t always move in a straight line. We make progress and then we have setbacks. That’s the history of Indigenous justice in this country. But with every passing generation, the arc bends a little bit more towards justice. The referendum outcome was of course disappointing, but we accept that outcome.

“There are some silver linings in that outcome. The silver lining of 6.5 million Australians saying, ‘Yes’. The silver lining of a new generation of young Indigenous leaders coming through.”

And in a major speech about the future of reconciliation after the Voice, Liberal MP Leeser said the lack of action since the Voice defeat was a source of shame for Australia. His speech did not mention the key role played by the Coalition in sinking the Voice.

The Coalition’s former Indigenous Australians spokesman, who moved to the opposition backbench so he could campaign for the Yes campaign, said he had hoped the parliament would unite after the referendum to pass a resolution committing the nation to reconciliation, but “no such resolution has been moved”.

“That is a shame because the failure of the referendum derailed the reconciliation process. But what is more of a shame is the national silence on Indigenous affairs that has followed since the referendum,” he said.

“In some respects, it is like the referendum never happened.

“It’s time for everyone – including the prime minister, especially the prime minister – as well as Indigenous leaders and the country itself to get back to work on reconciliation.”

Leeser said Burney’s resignation offered Albanese a chance to reset the portfolio.

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