The federal government has been avoiding taking action on Indigenous issues since the Voice to parliament referendum was defeated, independent MP Andrew Wilkie has claimed.
In a statement published today, a year after 60 per cent of Australians voted against the constitutional amendment, the long-serving MP accused the government of not doing enough to address the issues facing First Nations peoples.
“It’s been one year since the unsuccessful Voice referendum and the federal government still seems to be avoiding Indigenous issues,” Wilkie said.
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“Indeed, according to the latest Productivity Commission report, only five of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track and some are even going backwards.”
Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton committed to improving the lives of Indigenous people after last year’s October 14 referendum was defeated.
“A great nation like ours can and must do better for the first Australians,” Albanese said.
“And while there has been talk in recent times about division, let us now cooperate to address the real division.”
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Dutton, meanwhile, said he would “do my utmost to lead with courage and do what is right to implement the practical solutions required to improve outcomes and close the gap”.
But the last year has been dominated in parliament by the cost of living, energy policies and the conflict overseas, and Wilkie said the current government had largely ignored Indigenous issues in the last 12 months, as had its predecessors.
“There has been an abysmal lack of progress by a succession of Australian governments, with a range of policies and programs that have consistently failed Indigenous people and communities,” he said.
“It’s time for this government to get back on the front foot, listen to and empower First Nations peoples to make decisions about their lives and needs, and get serious about funding and delivering frontline services.”
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said today she had been working to ensure a bipartisan approach to closing the gap, while opposition counterpart Jacinta Price accused the government of not having a backup plan after the Voice was rejected.
Meanwhile, peak body Reconciliation Australia said the referendum defeat meant Indigenous advocates need to work harder and continue their push for “justice and truth-telling”.
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“Despite a huge misinformation campaign, six million Australians voted ‘yes’,” it said.
“60,000 people volunteered their time and support to the campaign and many First Nations communities voted in favour of the Voice to Parliament.
“Support for First Nations justice and self-determination continues after the referendum.
“In May 2024 international polling company Ipsos found that 78 per cent of Australians still believe First Nations people should have a say in the laws and political decisions that affect them.”
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