Following news that the referendum had not passed, Nine Network’s Brooke Boney made her feelings on the results clear in an impassioned plea.
Boney, a Gamilaroi woman, explained why she had agreed to be part of the live TV coverage of the historic referendum – Australia’s first of the 21st century – knowing the results may pan out in a way that leaves large parts of Indigenous community upset.
“I wanted to be here tonight to deliver the results to you, regardless of the outcome,” Boney told viewers.
“I wanted to be here to remind you all of the love we have for one another – a love that has served us for the last 60,000 years to be the longest continuing culture of anywhere in the world.
“That does not happen by accident.”
Boney echoed a similar sentiment of hope and moving forward together, after first calling out the divisive campaigning leading up to Saturday’s vote.
“This is a discussion that has, at times, been inspiring and at times been ugly,” she said.
“We’ve seen the best and the worst of people during this campaign.
“As the sun sets on polling day, it will rise again tomorrow and our work continues – to make sure our babies are loved, our Elders are cared for and our community is strong.”
Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said it was “a day of sadness” for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In pictures: Australia votes on Voice to parliament referendum
“I know this outcome will be hard for some, but achieving progress is never easy, and progress doesn’t always move in a straight line,” she said in a tearful speech following the results.
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“There are breakthroughs and heartbreaks, but I am confident that because of this campaign and the millions of conversations it has sparked, the renewed generation of Indigenous leaders will emerge.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton labelled it “the referendum Australia did not need to have” but used his speech to issue a message directly to Indigenous Australians.
“Like all Australians, some of you will have voted Yes and some of you will have voted No. Those of you who voted Yes will be hurting,” he said.
“To Indigenous Australians contending with difficulty and disadvantage, I will do my utmost to lead with courage and to do with his right to implement the practical solutions required to improve outcomes and close the gap.”
Brooke’s message in full
“I have a message for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers, as a Kamilaroi woman I wanted to be here tonight to deliver the results to you, regardless of the outcome.
“I wanted to be here to remind you all of the love we have for one another – a love that has served us for the last 60,000 years to be the longest-continuing culture of anywhere in the world. That does not happen by accident.
“This is a discussion that has, at times, been inspiring and at times been ugly. We’ve seen the best and the worst of people during this campaign.
“As the sun sets on polling day, it will rise again tomorrow and our work continues – to make sure our babies are loved, our Elders are cared for and our community is strong.
“To all of you at home tonight, I say goodnight.”
Readers seeking support can contact 13YARN, a free 24/7 crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, on 13 92 76 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
In an emergency, call triple zero (000).
