The Hon. Beverly McArthur, Member for Western Victoria, 18 October 2023
The 60 per cent No Vote in last weekend’s referendum was an overwhelming rejection of a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
It was a decisive loss for Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ‘Yes’ Campaigners.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, made a statement in the Victorian Parliament yesterday on the defeated referendum and the implications for Victoria’s Treaty.
“The architects of Treaty in Victoria must take note – they cannot blindly progress without properly making the case and taking Victorians with them.”
In 2018, Victoria became one of the first states to legislate a commitment to Treaty, and in 2022 committed $65m over three years to commence negotiations.
She continued, “the reaction in rural areas to recent recognition and settlement agreements demonstrates Victorians are wary of the Labor Government’s pursuit of Treaty. It may even have contributed to the enormous no votes in Mallee and Wannon.”
In the light of the referendum result, Mrs McArthur challenged the Minister to “acknowledge that democracy demands assent from the majority, and to explain exactly how you will win and prove a democratic mandate for Treaty from the people of Victoria.”
Across Western Victoria Region all six federal electorates resoundingly voted against the Voice.
Across Australia every state voted no and only the ACT voted yes.
Mrs McArthur suggested, “this may well indicate just how out of touch that public service dominated territory really is.”
In the Northern Territory, 60.5 per cent notably registered a no vote.
Mrs McArthur said, “it seems the starkest dividing line in Australia is not between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people but between the inner-city elites of the eastern states and the rest of the country.”
She said rejecting the Voice was a positive moment for Australia and marks a new era in Indigenous policy.
“The no vote was not a vote for the status quo or against any action; in fact it has highlighted the failures of the status quo.”
“I hope it will prove the catalyst for a full audit of the expenditure directed to Aboriginal issues across Australia so that taxpayer money can be effectively spent to close the gap without permanently constitutionally entrenching new experimental, ineffective and unnecessary division.”
