A full house filled The Red Rattler in Marrickville on Sunday to hear and discuss some alternative views on the upcoming ‘Voice’ referendum from an all-Blak panel that included Lidia Thorpe, Lynda-June Coe, Amanda Morgan, Ethan Lyon and Erin O’Leary. A Welcome to Country was performed by Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor. M.C. for the day was Elizabeth Jarrett.
While the panelists advocated a variety of positions on the referendum - No, Yes, Abstain and Informal - there was a general consensus that the process, institutions and organisations behind the official Yes and No campaigns are deeply problematic and were not to be trusted. The panel agreed that whatever the outcome of the referendum, the struggle for First Nations rights would need to continue into the future if real change and justice is to be realised.
A central discussion point of the day was the profound psychological, emotional and physical harm currently being endured by First Nations people as a result of the referendum process.
The referendum goes to a vote on October 14th, 2023.
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