My response to a referendum text message
My initial response to this uninvited text message I was anger.
After 2 days of thought and reflection I decided to write the following to the Party President and Director in WA and to the President and Director of the Federal party in Canberra.
Dear …….
I was intrigued to receive a text from “LiberalWA” this week, urging a no vote in the referendum.
I’m interested even though I fully support the voice and I disagree with all three emotionally-loaded ‘hooks’ that have been cleverly built into the message.
I have lived and worked in Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara and seen for myself how many decisions were being made for and about them by people in distant cities who had little or no access to Aboriginal voices to consult with or listen to. One exception to this was a visit from Fred Chaney when he was Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in the Fraser government. He was clearly listening.
My other reaction was sadness. The decision by the Liberal and National parties and the consequent “No campaign” is driving a wedge into a society that has become increasingly polarised in recent decades. As a psychologist and counsellor, I am deeply aware of the importance of connection and community for our emotional and mental health - and the dangers of separation, isolation and division. Humans function much better in close communities where our common interests are celebrated and our differences mediated through our cultural institutions.
As a counsellor I also understand the power of dividing people for political purposes – it can be effective in the short term but can have damaging consequences in the longer term. This is the real risk. Our democracy is being diminished by the rejection of our First Nations peoples’ simple request to be heard. The damage could be deep and last for decades after the referendum, whatever the result.
I am also saddened that the campaign is distracting us from much more important issues. Extreme fires and floods are devastating large parts of the northern hemisphere and it is very likely that Australia will suffer badly this coming summer, and many subsequent summers. Climate was used to divide Australians in the same way as the voice is now – the consequences are likely to be fatal for many people.
Climate should be the dominant issue in all our political institutions. We should be receiving regular briefings from our leaders about everything that is being done (and not being done) to prevent as well as prepare for extreme weather. We had daily briefings during the COVID pandemic – the climate crisis is many times worse.
I am also saddened that your party has lost its positivity. Where are the positive policy proposals that can help Australia thrive as a unified nation? Where is the bipartisan support for non-controversial legislation? Where is the positive and inspiring leadership to replace dogged opposition that has deservedly earned the tag no-alition?
Aggressive opposition to the voice is a high-risk tactic which may win a negative sort of victory, in partisan political terms, but is likely to have many negative consequences for decades to come. I appeal to the better angels in the hearts of Liberal Party members. leaders and officials to put the greater good ahead of tactics which appeal to the base instincts of people who are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, deep inequalities and the frightening threat of climate change.
Finally, as an advocate for the climate, I would ask that you start developing the positive polices on climate that can appeal to the majority of Australians who want more ambition to address the greatest challenge we are facing.
Yours sincerely
Rod Mitchell
