Indigenous politicians from across the political divide say they've noticed a rise in racism as the voice to parliament referendum edges closer. There’re four weeks to go before Australians will be asked to vote yes or no. Politicians have been in Canberra for the past fortnight but are now back in their electorates.
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00:00 She was out nice and early handing out these flyers.
00:04 Interesting to note not too many of the flyers were being taken.
00:07 Of course commuters in the morning are often running late to get on the train.
00:10 But she made some comments to some of the YES volunteers there saying that she's not
00:14 sure how many Australians are even aware that this referendum is going on given that a lot
00:19 of people now don't watch free to air TV, they don't read newspapers.
00:23 She said you know a lot of people are focused more on the streaming services.
00:26 So a bit of an acknowledgement there that the YES campaign does have a little bit of
00:30 a tough road ahead of it in order not only just to alert people to this referendum going
00:35 on but to try and get them on board with voting YES on October 14.
00:40 Now Linda Burney this morning was accompanied by Chris Minns who's the New South Wales
00:44 Premier and he asked sort of what travelling she's been doing and in response she provided
00:50 this reflection.
00:51 Let's take a listen.
00:52 You been doing a lot of travelling?
00:53 I'm a little bit.
00:54 It's unbelievable.
00:56 We just finished two weeks of really powerful.
01:00 Yeah, it's just unbelievable and racist and bullying.
01:07 The way they're treating me as a poor woman.
01:10 Now listening to that Jo, questions of course then were raised about whether Linda Burney
01:15 was talking specifically about here in Parliament or more generally.
01:19 We know over the past two weeks here in Canberra question time has been quite rowdy.
01:24 The Minister has faced a series of questions from the opposition about exactly how the
01:29 voice will work and also more general questions about certain voice supporters and comments
01:35 they've made in the past.
01:37 Now Linda Burney has released a statement following that conversation she had this morning
01:42 with Chris Minns.
01:43 I'll read that to you now.
01:44 It says, "In recent months my office, social media and email accounts have been inundated
01:49 with racist abuse.
01:52 Racism takes its toll.
01:53 But I will never allow racism to weaken or diminish my resolve to see Australia embrace
01:59 constitutional recognition through a voice.
02:02 My message to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing racism
02:07 is this.
02:08 Hold your head high.
02:09 Be proud of your identity and who you are."
02:11 So that statement from Linda Burney earlier today clarifying that her comments around
02:17 racism are more broad and general in terms of what she's receiving to her office and
02:23 through social media as well.
02:25 And Steffi, what have others in the Labor Party had to say?
02:28 Well it's interesting, Joe, to see as soon as politicians have left here in Canberra
02:33 they're already out campaigning.
02:35 So we had Linda Burney in Sydney, then we had Malindiri McCarthy who's the Assistant
02:39 Minister for Indigenous Australians.
02:40 She of course lives in the NT but she's actually been down in Tasmania today trying to rev
02:46 up the Yes campaign volunteers in Tasmania.
02:49 Now she did speak about racism as well.
02:52 She said social media plays a big part in the fact that people are being very awful
02:59 in some of their behaviour and she has pointed to both Parliament and the broader community.
03:04 Take a listen.
03:05 It has been a tough time for all of us and I think that whether it's in the Parliament
03:13 or outside we have seen a rise in people feeling that they can speak in very nasty ways, in
03:21 ways that I would not think are decent and in ways that want to belittle and keep people
03:27 down to hurt people.
03:29 There have been things that have been said but I would encourage all and I think Linda
03:34 Burney has shown great grace under fire here and under several attempts by others to call
03:41 her all sorts of names.
03:43 She is an incredible example of how we must rise above it.
03:48 Now Jo, politicians talking about seeing an increase in racism isn't just coming from
03:54 the government side.
03:55 We heard earlier this week the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Jacinta Nampagimpa-Price,
04:01 say that she has been sent abusive texts and voicemails since her personal phone number
04:06 was posted to social media.
04:07 Now earlier this year the Federal Government did announce millions of dollars in funding
04:12 that is there to support Indigenous Australians in terms of mental health support in the weeks
04:17 ahead before we get to that referendum on October 14.
04:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]