Key Points
- Warren Mundine has described the Uluru Statement as a "declaration of war" on Australia during a Press Club address.
- Mundine declined to criticise a comedian who described Traditional Owners as "violent black men".
- The No campaigner insists most Indigenous people are "doing fine" and don't need a Voice to Parliament.
Nyunggai Warren Mundine has labelled the Uluru Statement from the Heart a "symbolic declaration of war" on modern Australia, and claimed most Indigenous people are "doing fine" without an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Speaking to the National Press Club on Tuesday, the No campaigner also refused to condemn a comedian who described Traditional Owners as "violent black men" at a conservative conference Mundine chaired, saying people "have freedom to have comedy and make jokes".
Its architects have rejected what they call Mundine's "incendiary and inflammatory language", describing the Statement as "an olive branch" to all Australians.
The Voice was first called for in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, the result of years of consultation with Indigenous communities during the Uluru Dialogues.
But Mundine lashed the document as "steeped in grievance", saying Indigenous Australians had the choice to "draw a line in history and not be captive to that past".
"Many Aboriginals feel angry about past wrongdoings, but these events cannot be undone ... We describe [the Statement] as a symbolic declaration of war against modern Australia," he said.
"The canvas is a glossy marketing brochure for the misappropriation of history and for a radical and divisive Australia. All done in the name of Indigenous Australians, but working against us."
Asked to clarify what he meant by the comment, Mundine described references to Indigenous sovereignty made by the Statement's architects as "a challenge to Australian society".
"You can't ignore those words," he said. "You can't ignore that. That's an attack on the legitimacy of Australia."
The Uluru Dialogues, a collection of First Nations leaders including many of the architects of the statement, criticised Mundine’s rhetoric.
"Referring to the Statement as a 'declaration of war' is not the kind of language that is suitable for a modern liberal democracy like Australia," it said.
"The Uluṟu Statement was issued to the Australian people as a sign of peace, an olive branch, a hand of friendship," it said.
"It asks Australians to walk with us, First Nations people, in a movement of the Australian people for a better future."
Uluru Statement based on lies: Mundine
Mundine claimed the Uluru Statement was premised on "lies", including that Indigenous Australians did not already have a voice via First Nations politicians and a number of Indigenous advocacy organisations.
"Another lie is that the Voice is just an advisory committee. It's not. It is an entrenched, permanent, political right to make representations to the parliament and the executive," he said.
Mundine said Australians were sincere about their desire to end Indigenous disadvantage, but feared they would suffer an "enthusiasm gap" after a Yes vote.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott was also present for the speech. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"That's human nature, I suppose … if we really want to better the lives of our most disadvantaged Australians, we have no choice but to stay engaged for the long haul.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has insisted the Voice to Parliament would be limited to advising government on issues particularly impacting Indigenous Australians, and would not have the power to veto laws passed by parliament.
Australians generally can also lobby MPs by contacting their office, while bodies representing various sectors - like agriculture and mining - routinely meet with politicians to discuss their concerns.
Most Indigenous people 'doing fine': Mundine
Just , released this year, with another four going backwards.
In 2015-17, life expectancy at birth for Indigenous men was 71.6 years, 8.6 years lower than their non-Indigenous equivalent. It was 75.6 years for Indigenous females, 7.8 years less than non-Indigenous females.
Mundine agreed some Indigenous Australians faced disadvantage, but insisted "a special Voice" was not needed.
"The fact is, most Indigenous Australians are doing fine. They go to school, go to work, run businesses and take care of their families. And they aren't in prison," he said.
"It's wrong to tell young people growing up in these families that they are disadvantaged because they are Indigenous," he said.
Mundine refuses to condemn 'violent black men' comments
At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference - chaired by Mundine - in August, comedian Rodney Marks described Indigenous leader Bennelong as a "wife basher".
"I’d like to acknowledge the traditional rent-seekers, past, present and emerging," he said.
"But seriously, I'd like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners, violent black men. I hope there are some real feminists in the audience who appreciate the part-truth of that joke."
Mundine has been outspoken in his criticism of racist comments directed at him and Opposition Indigenous Australians spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, and has blamed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for "send[ing] me almost to suicidal positions" by calling the Voice referendum.
But he repeatedly refused to condemn Marks' comments on Tuesday, insisting his opinion on the matter was "irrelevant".
"They're not my words, they're a comedian's words. The comedian can make jokes. Let's be honest: [US comedian] David Chappelle and transgender," he said.
"Comedy is about pushing buttons and going right to the end ... I'm not going to be standing here and becoming the overlord of what is comedy and what is not comedy. They have freedom to have comedy and make jokes."
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