For those unaware, Langton made the following remarks at a forum in Bunbury, Western Australia on Sunday:
While it is reasonable to say that some Australians intend to vote No based upon certain prejudices, just as some intend to vote Yes based upon other prejudices, to begin painting both sides with one brush each is beyond preposterous. Others are voting Yes because they misunderstand the proposition before them, convinced by the idea that this referendum is simply about constitutionally acknowledging Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders as the first inhabitants of this continent.
The Voice means to call for some kind of national Treaty; this Treaty means to legitimise claims of sovereignty; and the Makarrata Commission, the “culmination of [the] agenda”, means to wield what legitimised sovereignty it can unashamedly and aggressively. Moreover, how well-versed are these geopolitically-minded Yes voters in other race-based domestic policies, such as those marring New Zealand?Those who are keeping up with the issues across the ditch would know conclusively that New Zealand’s co-governance nightmares must not be imported and implemented here.
And we do not know to what extent the Voice would make its “representations” to the Commonwealth’s Executive Government, or how intimidated the Commonwealth’s Executive Government would be by these “representations”.