Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is amazing, isn't it, that those on that side come in and ask questions about a learned woman's comments that they have taken offence to. They are the same people who had made their decision very early on that they were going to oppose the Voice. Let's be very clear about what they are opposing. They are opposing recognition in the Australian Constitution of our first people. Secondly, they are opposing giving First Nations people a Voice to Parliament. This is not something that was concocted here in Canberra; this was actually something that First Nations people have argued for, asked for, for so long.

If we look at the reason why it was this government that introduced the bill so that we can have a referendum so that finally our First Nations people can have recognition in the Australian Constitution and to give them a voice, was because of the very obvious things that we have been doing as governments. Let's face it, the majority of governments in this country at a federal level that have had the responsibility for our First Nations health, welfare and education have been Liberal governments, over a very long period of time. What they have been doing has not been working.

If we continue to do the same thing, we're going to get the same results. First Nations people have a much shorter life expectancy, poorer health outcomes, less opportunity for education. Fewer First Nations people go on to a tertiary education. I'm not saying tertiary education is the be-all and end-all but they do not have the opportunity. If we want to talk about the word 'racism', I have been absolutely astonished at the number of racist comments, the attacks on social media when people are trying to have a conversation about the referendum and about our democracy. I, for one, can respect someone else's opinion. If people want to vote to no, that is fine. You have every right; that is why we defend our great democracy. But what I do not support is an argument mounted on racism from the people on that side who are supporting the 'no' campaign and people from outside this place, the parliament, who are using racism to stop this referendum being successful. It is such a shame that we can't have a proper debate. I thought, 'Well, do we leave the comments up on social media—the negativity and the racism?' I thought, 'No, because there are a lot of people that are going to be reading those comments and they will get offended by them.'

So I'm all for those who do not want to support it. That's fine. But let's be very clear for those people on that side. How could the 'no' campaign be anything else but run by Mr Dutton, whose first act of defiance to the First Nations people was when he walked out of the apology in the federal parliament? He walked out when the Prime Minister was apologising for the past. He walked out, and he is now the Leader of the Liberal Party. So why would we be surprised that he's taken a very strong view to oppose the Voice? Why do you think he's doing that? Because it's the 'no-alition', because it's much easier to say no. But then he came up with a great plan: 'What we'll do is vote against this referendum but, gee, we're going to have our own referendum and spend even more money.' Are we supposed to trust that at that time he would have another referendum and it would be successful?

I really am astonished that people would come in here and try and blame everything about racism on this side of the chamber and anyone who is actually supporting the 'yes' campaign. I believe that we should all be able to make our own decisions based on our own values.