The former Australian Deputy Prime Minister has lauded the Australian public’s resounding rejection of The Voice in a historic referendum.
Barnaby Joyce spoke to GB News at the ARC Conference 2023 and described the 60 per cent vote in favour of No as a “knockout blow” to the hopes of giving greater political rights to Indigenous people.
All six states voted against a proposal to amend the constitution to recognise First Nations people and allow them to advise the government via a new body.
Joyce told GB News at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference that the Australian public has voted against the will of the elite in rejecting the new body.
Barnaby Joyce has praised a 'knockout blow'
GB NEWS
“A knockout of the Australian political scheme”, he said.
“What it is was is we were going to get ourselves a hereditary peerage based on race in Australia. A racial clause in 2023 where if you’re Caucasian, you couldn’t be a part of it.”
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He continued by claiming it remained unclear as to what the new setup would consist of should the referendum had ended up in favour of The Voice.
“The actual definition of what the Voice was, was going to happen after the referendum”, he told Andrew Doyle.
“It’s like going into the constitutional church and meeting your bride or groom as you walk out the door.”
Joyce went on to brand the idea “crazy”, claiming those who support the anti-monarchy movement in Australia who also backed the Voice are hypocrites.
The referendum has caused division in Australia
REUTERS
“I’d say to people, are you a republican or a monarchist? They say ‘I’m a republican’, I would then say ‘but you’re going to vote for like a hereditary peerage in Australia, effectively’.”
As the discussion progressed, GB News host Andrew Doyle questioned whether comparisons could be drawn between the vote and Brexit, as the Australian public voted against the government’s own position.
“The people’s views were different to the government”, he said.
“Every major corporation, every major sporting organisation, every major faith group, but they were overwhelmingly on the no side.”
The rejection followed a contentious campaign.
Supporters called for Indigenous peoples to be entrenched into the constitution in a bid to unite Australia and usher in a new era.
No leaders said the idea would create special “classes” of citizens, creating effectively a “two-tier” society.
They also claimed the new advisory board would slow government decision making.