'We never meant you harm': Australian Indigenous leaders lament referendum loss
Summary
TLDRThe speaker addresses Australians who voted 'no' on a proposal, emphasizing the Aboriginal people's peaceful intentions and their desire for change. Despite the rejection, they pledge to continue fighting for justice and equality, acknowledging the emotional toll this campaign has taken on Indigenous communities.
Takeaways
- 😔 The speaker acknowledges a period of grief for the nation, expressing disappointment over a lost opportunity.
- 🙏 A direct appeal is made to Australians who voted 'no', asking for understanding and emphasizing that Aboriginal people mean no harm.
- 🤔 The speaker is bewildered by the rejection of a moderate and fair proposal aimed at addressing long-standing issues.
- 🔄 The campaign is not just about 'yes' or 'no', but about unity, justice, and the Australian people as a whole.
- 💪 Despite the 'no' outcome, there is a commitment to continue the fight for justice and not to accept defeat.
- 🌐 The campaign's weight is recognized, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the impact of the result is acknowledged.
- 🏆 The speaker respects the democratic process and the decision of the Australian people, even if it's not the desired outcome.
- 🤝 The message is about inclusivity and the desire for a change that benefits all parts of the community.
- 🔍 There is a focus on addressing the disadvantage and disenfranchisement that a portion of the community faces.
- 📉 The speaker highlights the failure of successive governments to effectively address these issues, indicating a systemic problem.
- 🌟 The proposal presented was practical and aimed at making real change, suggesting a missed opportunity for progress.
Q & A
What is the speaker expressing grief about?
-The speaker is expressing grief over the loss of an opportunity for change, specifically in relation to the rejection of a proposal that would have benefited the Aboriginal people of Australia.
What does the speaker request from Australians who voted 'no'?
-The speaker requests understanding and recognition that Aboriginal people have never intended to harm or take anything from other Australians.
What is the speaker's view on the Aboriginal people's intentions towards other Australians?
-The speaker asserts that Aboriginal people have never and will never mean harm to other Australians and have never wanted to take anything from them.
What is the speaker's reaction to the rejection of the proposal?
-The speaker is bewildered by the rejection, as they see it as a missed opportunity to address the disadvantage and disenfranchisement faced by a portion of the community.
What does the speaker describe the proposal as?
-The speaker describes the proposal as moderate, fair, and a practical way forward for addressing the issues faced by Aboriginal people.
What is the speaker's stance on the outcome of the vote?
-Despite the outcome not being what the speaker hoped for, they respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process.
What does the speaker suggest will happen if the vote was 'no'?
-The speaker suggests that if the vote was 'no', they and others will not accept defeat and will continue to fight for justice and change.
How does the speaker acknowledge the impact of the campaign on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
-The speaker acknowledges that the campaign has been a heavy weight to carry for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that the result will be hard to bear.
What is the broader context of the 'yes' or 'no' campaign mentioned by the speaker?
-The broader context is about the Australian people coming together to address issues of justice and inequality, not just about a simple binary choice.
What is the speaker's final message regarding the democratic process?
-The speaker's final message is one of respect for the democratic process and the decision of the Australian people, even if it is not the outcome they desired.
What is the main theme of the speaker's message?
-The main theme is the pursuit of justice and change for Aboriginal people, the importance of understanding and unity among Australians, and the commitment to continue the fight despite setbacks.
Outlines
😔 Reflection on National Grief and Rejection of Change
The speaker begins by expressing a collective sense of grief over a lost opportunity and addresses Australians who voted 'no' with a hardened heart. They emphasize that the Aboriginal people have never intended to harm or take anything from others, and they call for understanding and recognition of the Aboriginal people's desire for change. The speaker is bewildered by the rejection of a moderate and fair proposal aimed at addressing the longstanding issues of disadvantage and disenfranchisement faced by a portion of the community. Despite the outcome, they pledge to continue the fight for justice, acknowledging the emotional toll the campaign has taken on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and respecting the democratic process that led to the current result.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Grief
💡Aboriginal
💡Disenfranchisement
💡Moderation
💡Practical
💡Democracy
💡Justice
💡Adversity
💡Recognition
💡Community
💡Campaign
Highlights
A period of grief is necessary for the nation to grieve the lost opportunity.
A direct appeal to Australians who voted 'no' to understand that Aboriginal people have never meant them harm.
The opportunity for Australians to make real change was presented but not accepted.
The speaker expresses bewilderment at the rejection of a moderate and fair proposal.
The campaign was not just about 'yes' or 'no', but about the Australian people and justice.
Despite a 'no' answer, the speaker pledges to continue the fight for justice.
The campaign has been a heavy weight for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The speaker respects the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process.
The speaker acknowledges the emotional impact of the result on the Aboriginal community.
The speaker emphasizes the ongoing struggle for addressing the disadvantages faced by a portion of the community.
Governments have repeatedly tried to address these issues without success.
The speaker calls for understanding and unity in the face of disenfranchisement.
The campaign was about the collective effort of the Australian people towards justice.
The speaker is disappointed but respects the democratic outcome.
The speaker reassures that the fight for justice will not cease despite the current setback.
The speaker acknowledges the importance of the democratic process in shaping the nation's decisions.
The transcript highlights the emotional and social implications of the referendum's outcome.
Transcripts
there will be a period of grief and I
think the whole nation should be
grieving the Lost opportunity
[Applause]
here I want to speak very directly to
those Australians who voted no with
hardness in your
hearts please understand that Aboriginal
far great island of people have never
wanted to take anything from
you we have never and will never mean
you no
harm brail
Blazers
Australians could change
this we had an opportunity to make real
change and I guess I'm just
bewildered because these gaps this
disadvantage this disenfranchisement of
a whole portion of our community and
Government after
government try to address these issues
and here we are with a very moderate and
fair proposal and a practical way
forward and it's not been accepted
campaign has never been about just yes
or
no two diametrically opposed words this
has been about us this has been about
you this has been about the Australian
people this has been about
Justice and it doesn't matter what
happens tonight if it is a no answer
then we're not lying down we're not
taking no for an answer and we will
continue I want to recognize that for
many Aboriginal and torist state
Islander people this campaign has been a
heavy weight to
carry and this result will be very hard
to bear at the outset I want to say that
while tonight's result is not one that I
had hoped for I absolutely respect the
decision of the Australian people and
the Democratic process that has
delivered
it
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