The emphatic result of the 2023 Voice Referendum is a triumph for democracy in Australia.
It showcases for all the sceptics the wisdom and ability of voters to cut through the hailstorm of disinformation and lies that flooded the public arena over more than a year.
Ordinary voters delivered a resounding repudiation of Labor’s deceptive push for constitutional recognition of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Also rejected was the notion of special ‘constitutional status’ for Indigenous over non-Indigenous Australians.
They did it because the Voice proposal was flawed strategically, hopelessly prosecuted and ignorant of the Australia in which it sought to implant itself.
The 60 per cent of voters nationally who said ‘No’ – calmly, rationally, and decisively – rejected the arrogant, overbearing finger-wagging by political, Indigenous, and corporate leaders who believe their views should prevail over the majority.
In his haste to appease powerful national public policy and academic Indigenous voices – the Prime Minister made the fatal mistake of turning his back on the majority.
The result is truly shocking for Albanese personally, Labor federally, Indigenous strategists, key ‘Yes’ spokespeople such as Noel Pearson and Marcia Langton – and for the many corporations who unwisely jumped on the Voice bandwagon for populists but ultimately misjudged reasons.
They revealed in sharp relief how distant the government has become from voters and corporations from customers.
Every State in Australia sent an emphatic message to Labor federally – don’t foist upon us your half-baked, ill-formed, arrogant, social engineering whether for a Voice or importantly for any other sectoral gesture where favour and preferment is the end result.
Sitting atop the vast sludge of thinly veiled instruction by leftist media – the ABC stands condemned for its atrocious reporting and abrogation of its duty to all Australians.
The reported statements of Laura Tingle regarding the national broadcaster’s ‘obsession with balance’ are, in my opinion, wholly unacceptable.
Given the result of the vote, her remarks were evidently out of touch to the majority of Australians – and have no place in contemporary journalism.
Junk talk shows The Drum and Q&A insidiously peddled their leftist agenda unhindered by the ‘strictures’ of quality journalism.
The week leading to the vote was one of shame for the ABC, including the reprehensible remarks of Middle East reporter Tom Joyner (about the impact of the Hamas invasion of Israel) which he later sought to withdraw.
The ABC has used every one of its platforms to humiliate, cajole, and urge audiences to vote ‘Yes’. Its Charter has been trashed by its staff and is now, like the Voice itself, utterly meaningless.
In a powerful sense, the ABC takes its place alongside the conga line of elites that prefers ‘instructing’ rather than ‘listening’.
The complicity of the besieged corporations raises important questions regarding the use of shareholder funds for social policy frolics and the obvious observation that it might work better if they focused on ‘core business’ rather than meddling in politics.
So, in the cold hard light of day, what now for Albanese and the hapless Linda Burney (who, like Langton) became the biggest assets for the ‘No’ case?
Serious questions will be asked about Burney’s suitability to remain in Cabinet – along with, perhaps, several other noisy Voice advocates.
For the calm, articulate Opposition’s Jacinta Nampijinpa Price – her political career just took a massive step forward. while the Prime Minister’s headed decisively in the other direction.
For Albanese, the time has finally arrived for him to commence his Premiership proper by embarking on policies that will deliver housing, health and education benefits – for all Australians – not a chosen few.
Now the pantomime is over, it’s time for some actual work, Anthony.
