The former Liberal minister Ken Wyatt has said Australians “cannot ignore those facts” about the effect of colonisation on Indigenous people, following comments from Jacinta Nampijinpa Price last week denying there were any lasting ongoing negatives of British settlement.
As scrutiny heightens on rhetoric around the Indigenous voice referendum, Anthony Albanese admitted the tone of some discussions had been “unfortunate”, calling for respectful conversations after ugly criticisms of Liberal politicians at a no campaign event in Adelaide.
“I condemn nasty behaviour wherever it occurs, wherever it occurs. We need to have a respectful debate,” Albanese said.
Wyatt, minister for Indigenous Australians under the former Coalition government, campaigned for a yes vote with current minister Linda Burney in Perth on Tuesday. Asked about Nampijinpa Price’s comments at the National Press Club last week, where she said she didn’t believe there were lasting negative impacts of colonisation on Indigenous people, Wyatt did not specifically reference the senator but pointed to history.
“The history of this nation is well and truly documented in so many publications, diaries, journals and historical records that reflect the interaction between First Nations people and those who settled in the lands where traditional owners had existed for 65,000 years,” he said.
“You cannot ignore those facts that are part of Australia’s history, its public record and the details of the stories that have been told.”
In her press club speech, Nampijinpa Price, the shadow Indigenous Australians minister and leader of the Fair Australia no campaign against the voice, claimed some Indigenous organisations sought to “demonise colonial settlement in its entirety and nurture a national self-loathing about the foundations of modern Australian achievement”.
When asked to clarify whether she thought any Indigenous people were suffering negative impacts of colonisation, Price responded: “No.”
“I’ll be honest with you, I do not think so. A positive impact, absolutely. I mean, now we have running water, readily available food,” she said.
“If we keep telling Aboriginal people that they are victims, we are effectively removing their agency and giving them the expectation that someone else is responsible for their lives. That is the worst possible thing you can do to any human being, to tell them that they are a victim without agency. And that is what I refuse to do.”
“No, there is no ongoing negative impacts of colonisation.”
Burney last week called Nampijinpa Price’s comments about colonisation “a betrayal”.
“Those comments are offensive. It denies the experience of so many First Nations families,” Burney said at the time.
“We only have to look at the Stolen Generations and the impacts that has had, in terms of ongoing trauma and pain.”
Wyatt said the voice would give Indigenous Australians “the opportunity to sit at the tables of government at every level. It also gives them the opportunity to talk about the things that are important to them.”
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“It’s absolutely important because I want a future where my grandchild walks as an equal with every other Australian and [does] not face levels of disparity,” he said.
Earlier, Albanese condemned protesters outside a no campaign event in Adelaide on Monday. The Liberal senator Alex Antic, a voice opponent, shared video online of protesters yelling insults including “racist dog”, “racist pig” and “wankers”.
The protesters were criticised by yes and no supporters, including Nampijinpa Price, the Liberal senator Simon Birmingham, and the South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas, who has backed the voice.
“Of course, some of the tone of the debate has been unfortunate. That’s the truth,” Albanese said when asked about the protest.
“What I would say to people is be respectful, I respect every Australian regardless of whether they’re going to vote yes or whether they’re going to vote no. What I would say about the debate is that people should actually debate the question that is before the Australian people.”
The prime minister urged Australians to “seize the day” by voting yes, “to finally recognise Indigenous Australians in our constitution, but also to give them an advisory group so that we can listen to them, to get better results. That’s what’s at stake on October 14.”
Burney said she remained optimistic about Western Australia supporting the voice.
“I know some people have said some things about Western Australia, but Western Australia is a state that is fiercely independent. Western Australia is a state that understands that there needs to be a better future not only for this country but for First Nations people in this country,” she said.