Leading Voice opponent uses Adelaide gathering to hit out at Yes supporters

Leading critics of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament have gathered in Adelaide for one of the biggest No campaign events so far, with one accusing supporters of the proposal of resorting to “bullying” and “gaslighting”.

Ahead of an event in Adelaide which drew around a thousand attendees, Coalition Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said Indigenous supporters of the No campaign were being singled out for their stance against the Voice.

The Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians said there were “individuals as part of [Yes] rallies, progressive white Australians” that were suggesting she was “simply a voice” for “mainly white” Country Liberal Party members.

She did not cite specific examples or clarify who she was referring to with her comments.

“People like myself … are singled out because apparently as Indigenous people, we’re supposed to agree with a proposal that is empty,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

A group of protesters gathered outside the Adelaide Convention Centre holding signs reading “fight racism” and “no pride in genocide”, and banners against the AUKUS deal, while chanting “always was, always will be, Aboriginal land”.

“You wouldn’t see a group of No people show up to a Yes event and protest and jump up and down and try to stop them from having their say,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

“This is what we’ve come to see in our country — bullying, gaslighting, manipulative kind of behaviour.”

Senator not drawn on treaty comments

Senator Nampijinpa Price and leading campaigner Nyunggai Warren Mundine were both key speakers at Fair Australia’s Vote No event at the Adelaide Convention Centre, and were joined by South Australian Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle.

Senator Nampijinpa Price would not be drawn on Mr Mundine’s comments backing a treaty process — remarks that fellow No campaigners, including Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, have distanced themselves from.

Mr Mundine brushed off questions about whether he was worried his stance on a treaty would cost him in any future political moves.

“We’re here to stand up to this referendum which is dividing this nation,” he said.

“[It’s] costing hundreds of millions of dollars, which could be better spent in those communities getting kids to school.”

Senator Liddle also said division was a major problem — because of the Voice proposition itself and because of the campaign. 

“Whether you came here 70,000 years ago, like I can trace my ancestry on both sides, or whether you came here last year or 10 years ago, our foundation document applies to everyone equally,” she said. 

Yes campaigners hopeful weekend turnout defies polling

The No campaign’s event in Adelaide followed a weekend of rallies organised by Voice supporters across the country, with tens of thousands of people attending in both Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday.

In South Australia — a state the Yes campaign has described as critical to its hopes of success in the referendum — thousands marched through the centre of Adelaide.

Voice backers there expressed confidence that South Australian voters would back the referendum, despite polling showing a sharp dive in support for the Voice in that state.

“This is to demonstrate the overwhelming community support here in South Australia for a ‘Yes’ vote,” federal government minister Amanda Rishworth said of Saturday’s rally in Adelaide.

“We’ll see South Australia playing such a critical role in this referendum coming up.”

Yes campaign director Dean Parkin said he was encouraged by what he was seeing in the state.

“We reckon South Australia is going to be absolutely there with us,” he said.

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