'Do not expect us to be silently complicit in our colonisation': Lidia Thorpe

Aug 15, 2023

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe sharply criticised the Voice to Parliament proposal today, arguing that it amplifies certain voices while "silencing the diversity of our people."

She says the proposal is "an insult to our intelligence" and a violation of cultural protocols, referencing the tens of thousands who marched on Invasion Day as evidence of widespread dissent.

"Do not expect us to be silently complicit in our colonisation," Ms Thorpe said.

https://youtu.be/p0A4JhPOhAU

(94) 'Do not expect us to be silently complicit in our colonisation': Lidia Thorpe - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0A4JhPOhAU

Transcript:

(00:00) I've been hearing all over the place that people should vote Yes in the referendum because this is what first peoples are asking for but who are the First Nations Representatives the government have been talking to when the government of the day strategically selects which voices they want to listen to who they want on their advisory bodies they're already in the process of manufacturing the consent that they need to destroy country and continue their colonial project and when you give a voice to only a

(00:41) Selected Few you also inherently silence others silencing every other black father in this country silencing the diversity of our people silencing the knowledge and wisdom of our people this Pro this proposal is an insult to our intelligence a Breaking of our cultural protocols and an insult to the tens of thousands of people that marched on Invasion Day this year calling for treaty do not expect us to be silently complicit in our own colonization the voice is the easy way to fake progress without actually having to

(01:31) change a thing it is a destructive distraction absolving the government of its continued crimes if you judge the proposed Voice by article one of the international confident on civil political rights All Peoples have the right to self-determination the same right is affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples what we call the Andre that would mean deciding our own fate not advising others to decide to decide Over Us in whatever way they wish The Voice cannot give us what we need

(02:20) it has no power to return land deliver Services distribute resources enact laws or even block racist laws it cannot build a single house for our people in fact there is no guarantee it will do anything at all the voice is subordinate to the federal government to the very system oppressing us since colonization