DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Garma Festival panel: Indigenous debate soured, leaders too fearful since Voice referendum

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Australian political leaders are perceived as too fearful of backlash to enact significant Indigenous advancement policies since the Voice to Parliament referendum failed.
  • Media figures at the Garma Festival criticized leaders for "dropping the ball" and moving on from Indigenous affairs.
  • Concerns were raised about social media disinformation fueling racism and hindering civil discussion on Indigenous issues.

Political leaders in Australia have become overly cautious and fearful of public backlash, hindering their ability to implement meaningful promises for Indigenous Australians, according to a panel of media experts at the Garma Festival. Three years after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum, the panel discussed how the majority 'No' vote has resulted in a perceived lack of political action regarding Indigenous advancement.

It's almost like the day after the referendum, people just forgot that it happened.

— Chris MitchellFormer editor-in-chief of The Australian, commenting on the lack of follow-through on Indigenous issues post-referendum.

Chris Mitchell, former editor-in-chief of The Australian, accused political leaders of neglecting Indigenous affairs since the referendum, stating they have "just moved on" as if the vote never happened. Julian Leeser, Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister, echoed this sentiment, describing the current government's Indigenous policy as "adrift" and lacking clear direction.

Disinformation is a very insidious force in society. In social media it is a pervasive force … it is a genuine social cancer.

— Kim WilliamsChair of the ABC, discussing the impact of social media on discussions about Indigenous affairs.

Kim Williams, Chair of the ABC, highlighted the pervasive threat of social media disinformation, calling it a "genuine social cancer" that impedes constructive dialogue. NITV journalist John Paul Janke added that the referendum's aftermath saw an increase in online racism, forcing media outlets to hire moderators. He suggested that governments are hesitant to address disinformation for fear of igniting a "culture war."

It just unleashed racism.

— John Paul JankeNITV journalist, describing the rise in racism on social media following the Voice referendum.

Barrie Cassidy, former host of ABC's Insiders, noted a pattern of politicians making grand promises while on Aboriginal country, only to retract or abandon them later. He cited Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's promise to attend the Gulkula site annually, a commitment he did not fulfill this year. Cassidy recalled a similar situation in 1988 when a treaty promise was made but never materialized, concluding that politicians often get "excited" by such occasions but fail to follow through.

They get this kind of emotional rush of blood to the head.

— Barrie CassidyFormer ABC Insiders host, explaining politicians' tendency to make promises on country that they later abandon.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog