NT Senator Jacinta Price “does not speak for us or most Aboriginal people,” according to a media release today by the Central Land Council, on behalf of its 90 members, describing them as community leaders and senior cultural men and women who speak for the communities that elected them.
Alice Springs based Senator Price (at right) was this week promoted to shadow minister for Indigenous Australians in Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s cabinet.
She is a prominent spokesperson for the “No” side in the campaign leading up to the referendum about the Voice.
“She needs to stop pretending we are her people,” CLC deputy chair Warren Williams, from Yuendumu, is quoted in the release.
“Our kids are the apples of our eyes.
“We are not abusers. We love our children. We’d like to know where she got her information from. It is mandatory to report such evidence to the authorities.
“We can do without self-appointed lone crusaders who are unable to bring people of good will together.”
There are many better qualified Aboriginal people, with decades of experience, who have been putting forward solutions for the care, protection and education of children who need a strong voice in Canberra, the release says.
It also quotes Lajamanu community leader Valerie Patterson saying Senator Price was misrepresenting the support for the Voice in remote communities.
“I am a Warlpiri woman and I will vote yes because I believe that having the right to be heard by the parliament and the government will open a door for our children.
“Senator Price should support us, not tell lies about us.”
The release from a meeting at Spotted Tiger, near Atitjere (Harts Range), says council members are sick of Senator Price’s continued attacks on land councils and other peak Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory.
“We are tired of her playing politics with the grass roots organisations our old people have built to advocate for our rights and interests,” Mr Williams is quoted.
“Her people are the non-Aboriginal conservatives and the Canberra elite to which she wants to belong.
“She should tell us what her grievances with the CLC are, and if she can really and truly listen to us she is welcome to attend our next council meeting.”
The release says the council is well aware of the scale of the challenges its members and their families face and welcomes anyone who is willing and able to work with them.
“We have many good men and women who are trying hard to make our communities better places, who are desperate to be heard, and Senator Price’s divisive approach isn’t helping,” Mr Williams is quoted, and that by generalising about Aboriginal people without any evidence and authority, Senator Price is hurting Aboriginal people.
“The Voice comes from the people. It’s a big opportunity for us. It opens everything up for us.
“There’s a lot of people who think the same thing. We want to go ahead with it. We will probably never have that chance again.”
Mr Williams is quoted as saying Senator Price needs to educate herself about the views of Yapa [Warlpiri for Aboriginal people].
“We’ve never seen her on communities. She needs to get down to the grass roots and find out the truth, not just speak with to the few people who will talk to her.”
The Alice Springs News has invited Senator Price to respond.
PHOTO: Voice Delegate Group “Yes” at the council meeting. Courtesy CLC.
UPDATE April 21: A spokesperson for Senator Price emailed that she would not comment.
The Voice referendum is the foundation step towards true reconciliation, to give first Nations people the inalienable right to manage their own consensus, as a nation, to present to government, not to have what they want, need and feel, dictated to them by the government of the day, to suit that government’s agenda.
I will certainly be voting YES, along with fair minded Australians of all nationalities, which I believe is the overwhelming majority.
Nick Bradshaw. Having lived and worked in remote areas of SA, WA, NT, had businesses in all states of Australia, also lived in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Alice Springs. I honestly see no need for a Voice.
But would like to see a change of mind set by the radical left of politics and Aboriginal departments to rein in opposition to anything white Australian, past and present.
I’ll wait till October to make a decision. At this point in time, it’s an errrrr because I’m sure a political bombshell will effect many voters’ decisions before October.
Look at all the buffel grass carpeting the hillside behind that group of people.
Please Jacinta,
Take your meds.
Regards.
Well Kevin, Jacinta Price is intoxicated with her short-lived fame before the media headlights. Someone has planted in her head that she has a chance of becoming PM.
She has taken the prospect of this very seriously. She told Lakita Bourke, the UK Correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald in an exclusive interview that though she did not plan it that way, and all she wanted to do was to help disadvantaged Indigenous people, if the trajectory took her that way, she would accept the PM position.
She faces some barriers. She is in the wrong parties. Country Liberal Party at state level and The Nationals at Federal Level. She needs to be either Liberal, or ALP.
She is a Senator. Senators cannot become PMs or Deputy PMs. These positions are reserved for Lower House elected representatives.
She has already unsuccessfully tried to obtain a House of Representatives seat without success. She can try for an Independent position, but this is unlikely to work. But she would be up against candidates for the major parties and The Greens.
Jacinta Price does not enjoy universal popularity in her own Territory or her electorate of Alice Springs.
In a photo 90 Indigenous people from Central Land Council aged 20 to 80 are shown disowning Ms Price.
When will the corporate Land Trusts owners of the lands accept their responsibilities to build, lease and maintain the houses on their lands?
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Paul, fair dealings and effective communication within Indigenous cultural groups in conflict over land ownership and responsibilities present challenges. Not being able to afford it denies access to Court proceedings for most of the population.
It is conceivable that policies and legislation can be contemplated which better protect inhabitants on land owned by land councils or private landowners who are tenants.
The Voice would have housing, education, health and job skilling as priorities.