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‘Rejected and going backwards’ post referendum
By PETER ROWE
A leading aboriginal activist has told the ABC that more than a year after the Voice referendum was voted down First nations people feel rejected and going backwards.
Pat Turner, the CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and chair of the Coalition of Peaks, said Indigenous leaders had been left in the dark.
“Very sadly, the referendum to establish the constitutionally enshrined Voice was defeated and the Coalition of Peaks is not its replacement,” Ms. Turner told the ABC’s Speaking Out program.
“Especially when there was nothing to follow from the government, apart from their commitment to continue working with us.”
The silence from Canberra post referendum has hurt many, who thought there would be genuine dialogue to find solutions.
Ms Turner said the new Queensland State government’s decision to close their truth-telling inquiry has had a devastating impact on Indigenous Queenslanders.
“Queensland and the Northern Territory have the same sort of issues with young people that we are yet to see play out, but it’s not good as far as youth justice is concerned,” she said.
The Federal government’s engagement with bodies like the Coalition of Peaks on the Closing the Gap targets has almost stopped since the referendum, according to Ms Turner, who emphasised that Indigenous bodies are still working to meet targets.
“The people feel, post referendum, that there’s been a bit of stagnation, but it’s certainly not the case,” Ms Turner said adding that so many communities were still working hard to close the gap.
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