The Voice: The Exploitation of Indigenous Australians By Brian Simpson
One thing that is clear in the aftermath of the Voice referendum, is that indigenous people have been used in the political game played by the elites. The prime minister asked No campaign leader Senator Price whether indigenous people in the Northern Territory voted for No. The senator did not know at the time, but we can answer now, that 60.5 percent of NT people voted No. There are some remote communities that voted Yes, but, in a democracy, small minorities doe not dictate results. And Senator Price had some harsh words about how voters in those remote communities may have been treated: “One thing that I do know is the way in which Indigenous people in remote communities are exploited for the purpose of somebody else’s agenda,” she said.
“I think going ahead we probably need to look at the way in which the AEC, the NTEC [Northern Territory Electoral Commission] conduct themselves when it comes to remote polling and elections at referendums.
“I think we should take away those who come in with their how to votes, the unions that come in and overpower vulnerable Aboriginal people in those communities.”
So, the story is once again, more complicated than the prime minister seems to think.
“Earlier on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed out that majority Indigenous booths like Lockhart River, Palm Island and Mornington Island had voted Yes.
Asked if Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, whom Price represents, would vote Yes or No, Price said “it will be interesting to see” before appearing to question the behaviour of the Australian Electoral Commission.
“One thing that I do know is the way in which Indigenous people in remote communities are exploited for the purpose of somebody else’s agenda,” she said.
“I think going ahead we probably need to look at the way in which the AEC, the NTEC [Northern Territory Electoral Commission] conduct themselves when it comes to remote polling and elections at referendums.
“I think we should take away those who come in with their how to votes, the unions that come in and overpower vulnerable Aboriginal people in those communities.”
Asked if she was questioning the AEC’s conduct, a furious Nyunggai Warren Mundine then interrupted and, thumped the lectern, and said “people are committing suicides in these communities”.
“People are being raped, and beaten. And this is the question you come up with?” he said.
“We had a vote tonight that said Australians want to get things done. Well, stop talking about all this other nonsense and actually start talking about those kids…who are young as nine and 10 and commit suicide in their communities.“
The pair then ended the press conference.”
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