Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
ABC Doorstop
Topics: the Voice, Indigenous letter
23 October 2023
E&OE.
Journalist
This letter from indigenous leader says the shameful victory belongs to the Institute of Public Affairs, the Center for Independent Studies and mainstream media. Is that right?
Senator Cash
Well no it’s not because the decision in the referendum belongs to the Australian people and the Australian people voted no. If any letter is to be written, quite frankly, it should be written to our Prime Minister Mr. Albanese. He should be asked why he took Australians down this path. He should be asked why he made the decision to ask Australians to divide themselves on the basis of race. Australians sent a very clear message to Mr. Albanese on referendum day, and that was no to Mr. Albanese, his voice of division.
Journalist
What do you make of the statement in this letter that says the majority of Australians have committed a shameful act. Whether knowingly or not, and there is nothing positive to be interpreted.
Senator Cash
I don’t agree with that statement. And again, as Peter Dutton said, Australians on referendum day they did not vote no to uniting indigenous people. They did not vote no to better outcomes for our most disadvantaged. What Australians voted no to was Mr. Albanese and Mr. Albanese’s voice of division.
Journalist
Do you take responsibility or credit for the no result as the opposition?
Senator Cash
Not at all. This was a decision from the Australian people. And again it was Mr. Albanese who was not able to provide any detail in relation to his Voice. It was Mr. Albanese that put forward the question. It was Mr. Albanese who time after time could have actually said this has divided Australians and I will not proceed. It was Mr Albanese who chose to walk this path.
Journalist
But how can you not take any responsibility or or credit for the result when the opposition was campaigning for No?
Senator Cash
Well, again, ultimately, this was a decision for the Australian people. We had made our position very, very clear. We did not support Mr Albanese’s risky, unknown, permanent, and divisive voice. The more Australians asked questions about Mr Albanese’s Voice, the less they found out. This is squarely at the feet of Mr Albanese. He chose to go down this path, and Australians resoundingly rejected him and the question.
Journalist
Do you believe it would have been successful if there was bipartisan support?
Senator Cash
Well, Peter Dutton offered the bipartisan support for indigenous recognition. The overwhelming majority of Australians support indigenous recognition of indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders. That bipartisan support was offered to Mr. Albanese, but again, Mr. Albanese wasn’t interested. Mr. Albanese wanted to play politics, and Mr Albanese chose to divide Australia and Australia and saw through Mr. Albanese, and they voted overwhelmingly no to Mr Albanese’s Canberra based voice of division.
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