Keiran Stewart - Assheton on Yes23 Disinformation and progressive/regressive politics

Out of Mourning- post The Voice Referendum with Sam Cook

In this epilogue on the Voice series I have a deadly dangerous yarn with Aboriginal muso, activist, US -based International Creative Director, Miss Samantha Cook. We discuss the overwhelming No vote in the recent referendum on enshrining a voice to parliament and its impact on both the Yes23 campaigners as well as Aboriginal progressive No's who didn't want the referendum in the first place. We unpack the history of the Voice campaign, the designers, financial backers and the government/media appointed Aboriginal leadership that led the campaign and what we believe they and we should do as the next step. We acknowledge the trauma experienced by all, including the Yes23's who called for a week of silence as an expression of mourning and look at the whole exercise as a cautionary tale for our "leaders" to properly consult and include all Indigenous voices, especially grass roots people they purported to represent. As for non-Indigenous allies, they need to 'hold space' for Indigenous peoples and learn to listen and respect our peoples whose lives were ultimately going to be determined and governed by non-Indigenous people as a result of this referendum. Can we instead look at a referendum on a republic again, whereby our peoples are included in writing a constitution together that acknowledges our sovereignty and an equal path forward? A document that leads to our self-determination and equity in Australia's economy derived from stolen Aboriginal land and waters? A treaty through a re-write of our constitution. Sam shares her hope for a younger, diverse, intelligent leadership with strong ties to community and its concerns who need the space and funding to lead, which may require current leadership to step aside or at least include these voices and all come together and acknowledge our power in unity.

How will you feel the next day whether YES or NO? with Gnarla Kunoth-Monks

On the eve of the 2023 Australian Referendum, in the very last episode of this first series on The Voice (First Nations Voice to Parliament), I discuss with the daughter of the late great film star and social justice advocate, Dr Rosalie Kunoth- Munks OAM (Jedda, 1955) why she would have voted No and recommended others to vote no. Gnarla Kunoth-Munks is a Arrernte, Anmatjere, Alywerr woman, who has lived on her country most of her life, currently based in Alice Springs, talks about her mother's political influence on her and why she will also be voting no, while also respecting everyone else's decision to vote how they wish. I don't see this voice in this constitution making any difference to me or my people in our tribal homelands and already the government has stated that it will be in control of the set up so really, whose voice is it? (Kunoth-Monks, 2023) We talk about our mutual experiences and emotions felt leading up to the referendum and try to envisage what the future might look like in light of a YES or NO.

The Waters are still Muddy- I don't know how to vote

In this episode we have a yarn with two Australian women who are still not sure how they will vote in the upcoming referendum on an enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament. One is a non-Indigenous woman Karyn Meaker, living on Biripi country, who worked for Community and Justice for over three decades in Aboriginal Child Protection and a fierce advocate for Indigenous peoples. The other is a proud Gamilaroi woman, Donna Armstrong (nee Munro) from a famous Aboriginal activist family, the Munro clan from Moree, NSW. We unpack ABC Four Corner's 'Muddy Waters', media bias, mining company support of the Voice, privatisation of prisons, deaths in custody, what makes a true white Australian ally to First Nations peoples, the importance of listening and the ugliness of social media, fair skinned/white privilege and what we hear from white people who think we are white or racist, tokenistic consultation, racial bias within government departments, dissenting voices being talked down by well meaning white people who know what’s best - the "superiority complex". This is not anti this or anti that but an open and honest conversation on the voice from a blackfella and whitefella perspective - “ you do what you wanna do for you to be okay tomorrow” (Donna Armstrong). Featuring music by Grant Leigh Saunders and Whitehouse.

Keiran Stewart - Assheton on Yes23 Disinformation and progressive/regressive politics

In this episode we have the president of the Black Peoples Union (BPU) talking about the history of black communism, the false impression of extensive consultation with First Nations peoples in the lead up to the writing of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the mass walkout of staunch radical Blactivists from the Uluru convention, the Race Power Section 51 (xxvi) of the constitution, detrimental policies and "dodgy programs" imposed on First Nations peoples by the Labor government and alternative solutions offered by the BPU.

Why would Aboriginal people say no to this?

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the 30th of August 2023, that the Referendum to Vote YES or NO on an enshrined Indigenous Voice to parliament in Australia's constitution is now set for 14th October 2023 and his party and supporters will be desperately campaigning to win the Australian people over to vote Yes. In this season I will be exploring the grey area between the Yes23 campaign led by the Albanese Labor Government and the No campaign led by the Liberal National Party opposition. There are many Indigenous voices, including mine, that have not and are still not being heard AND who are against the Voice to Parliament. In this episode you will get to know who I am, as the host and creator of this podcast, why I am against this Referendum and why I will be voting No along with many Australian Indigenous peoples who will ultimately be effected by the decision either way.