Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister announced that polling
day for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum is going
to happen on October fourteen. Anthony Albertezi revealed the date
of the long mooted referendum in Adelaide. He came out
and that state Adelaide where he did actually make that announcement.
As we know it could play a pivotal role in
the vote count. The question for the referendum is going
(00:22):
to be a proposed law to alter the Constitution to
recognize the first peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?
That is going to be the question now. I know
that there are still plenty of people who are undecided
as to whether they are going to vote yes or no.
(00:45):
And we thought to ourselves here on three point sixty
do you know what we want to speak to some
people who well, to some locals that we do highly
respect and their opinions we value. And joining me on
the line right now is Larakia Elder. He's also Darwin
Waterfront Corporation chairman and he's got an Honorary Doctorate of
(01:05):
Flinders University. He also does some of the best welcome
to countries you've ever seen. His name is Richard b Jo.
Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
You, Richard, Hey, good morning. How are you yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Really good? Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, firstly,
what does the voice mean to you?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Progression? It's as simple as that. For me, it's a
way forward. I know that there's people out there that
will vote. No, I'm not telling people how to vote.
I'm saying that people educate your way around why you
want to vote that way unless your vote still know
that's fine, you know, everyone has a foodom of choice.
(01:48):
But what it means to me is a person that
grew up out remote and Elliott in the seventies, being
on my month's country seeing poverty, despair, poor healthcare. Additions
having family that still live in community today living in despair, poverty,
you know, and even being affected by personally my growing
(02:11):
up experiences. We need to make things better, we need
to progress, and to me, a yes vote will mean progression.
It means that we have a different strategy to actually
influence and say to the politicians, this is what our
people on the ground needs. This is what our communities,
(02:32):
this is what our families are saying. So I am
one hundred percent on the yes camp, and I do
respect the people that say no or are undecided. For me,
I grew up in a time of poverty and I've
seen improvements and I think of it as a giant ball.
If were able to push that ball one centimeter one
(02:53):
year over a twelve month here, it is still progression
and that's what we need to do.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Richard. One of the questions that we got asked quite
regularly is why why do you think this will make
a difference.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
It's an opportunity to make a difference because if we
actually get politicians listening to people who are on the
ground and making better decisions based on that information, then
that's going to generate change on the ground. So you know,
we're trying to me it's a reach out to an
(03:29):
opportunity where these recommendations and I talk about the social
determinants of health, you know, housing, health education. If we
were to put on something that was permanent, and we
made a recommendation in Parliament and was passed, it might
be something as simple as saying, well, we need to
have our languages taught in all schools. Now, if that
(03:53):
was approved and that became a permanent edition, then it's
not a wishy washy approach anymore. You know. If we
were to say something about we want all medical conditions,
medical clinics and medical access right across Australia equitably for
(04:13):
all Australians, then that means that we're not We're not
sitting in the water. We actually have a chance to
get in the boat. I think about the Australian people
as sitting in a boat and umbrick On people are
sitting in the water. So the Australian people can actually
reach from the boat, take our hands and pull us
in the boat where we belong with the rest of Australia.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Tell me, Richard, what do you say to those who
you know who at this point in time They're looking
at this and they're going, I'm worried that it's going
to be like an elitist representative group in Canberra rather
than being people in the community on the ground, aware
of what's sort of happening in the territory.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Well, I think that was already no to buy. The
Prime Minister when he made the announcement that it would
be an electoral process. So you know, I think it's
fair they have the people decide who they want to
represent them, you know, and their best interests, and that
was said with the announcement. So you can actually elect
who you want representing you, and that's democracy and that's fair.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Now tell me, how do you expect people in the
Northern Territory are going to vote overall? And I do
want to know, I'm asking, I'm going to be asking
you and do so. Helen's secretary quite similar questions. So
if I sound you know, if I sound like I'm
going down the list, that is why. But how do
you expect the people in the Northern Territory are going
to vote overall?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Well, firstly, let me say I have all respect for
Helen and how she chooses to vote as well. But
I'm hoping and I can't predict. No one can predict
the future. But all I say is I hope people
will sway towards a yes vote. And the reason why
is because it's also been announced that what do we
(06:05):
have currently happening is not working, so we need a
new approach and there will be people who will say
no for this reason or that reason to me. It's
about going back to the first point, which is progression
of our people. Because what we've tried has failed. We
know that much. That's fact. What we can do can
(06:28):
be successful. We don't know that well. But you know
what it's like. Our first leaders, they actually from sixty
seven when we became citizens, we had our first lawyers,
our first doctors. They went into a space unknown. We're
going into a space unknown. But if we're able to
test that and a successful great. If we don't test it,
(06:50):
nothing changes. The status quo is unacceptable.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now. I know that there are some people in the
Northern Territory right now feeling a bit disenfranchised due to
the fact that, you know, this sort of needs the
double vote. So obviously it needs the majority of states,
and then it needs you know, more than fifty percent
of Australians, of all Australians. But some Territorians feeling a
bit disenfranchised that our vote sort of in some ways
(07:15):
doesn't carry the same weight given the fact that the
territory is not you know, not counted in that state vote.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Sure well, all I'd say to the Territorians is if
you don't vote, or if you vote no, nothing changes
if you vote yes, and it may carry some sway,
I don't know, but you know, something's better than nothing.
And I'll take the history of the Northern Territory, especially
Darn back to Cyclone Tracy. That just didn't impact on
the Aboriginal people. It impacted on the community. The bombing
(07:46):
of Darwin, they didn't just bomb Aboriginal people, they bombed
all of Darwin and Territorians were in a together, black,
white or brindle. And so this is why this is
a call out for help. Because Aboriginal people are in
the water. Original people are in the boat. We're asking
you to reach down and grab us, give us a
hand and help us out of the water and put
(08:06):
us in the boat because that's where we should be.
And once we're there, you know, we're going to have
a better Australia, A profitable Australia, are better educated Australia
across the board, more equitable and equity, sorry, equality across Australia.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Richard, what do you say to those people that are
listening this morning, that are sort of sitting on the
fence and they're they're you know, there may be not
one hundred percent sure they've you know, they're they're hearing
kind of all the noise and they're and they're a
bit confused. What do you say to them this morning?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Go online and do your research, Go and have a look,
make a decision for yourself. At the end of the day,
you're in the pollen booth. But for me and my experience,
I'm voting yes because I know we need something here.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Well, Richard Fijo, I always appreciate your time, mate, and
really appreciate your having a chat with us this morning,
and I think it's an insightful discussion, and I appreciate
the respect that you give people. You know, whether, like
you said, whichever way they vote, just make sure you
educate yourself. And I certainly echo that sentiment. Don't do
(09:18):
it because you heard somebody you know tell you something,
or you know, if somebody said something on Facebook. Go
and find it yourself. Go read that information and work
it out for yourself what you're going to do.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Absolutely agree with you. Go and do the research. There's
a lot of stuff out there, but you know, if
you're going to do that research, make sure it's legitimate research,
you know, not just he said, yeah, you know, which
we do get across a lot of these days. Yeah,
if you're confused further, talk to someone about it.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Where do you get legitimate sources from?
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Yep. But I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks
so much for having a chat to us. And you know,
the way in which you're talking about it, about the
boat and Aussie's being on there, and you know, and
putting your hand out, I think it's like that's it's
a really nice way to put it. And and yeah,
I appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
No worries, we all are all these Yeah, thank.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You, Yeah, good on you. Thanks so much for your time.
Richard
Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister announced that polling
day for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum is going
to happen on October fourteen. Anthony Albertezi revealed the date
of the long mooted referendum in Adelaide. He came out
and that state Adelaide where he did actually make that announcement.
As we know it could play a pivotal role in
the vote count. The question for the referendum is going
(00:22):
to be a proposed law to alter the Constitution to
recognize the first peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?
That is going to be the question now. I know
that there are still plenty of people who are undecided
as to whether they are going to vote yes or no.
(00:45):
And we thought to ourselves here on three point sixty
do you know what we want to speak to some
people who well, to some locals that we do highly
respect and their opinions we value. And joining me on
the line right now is Larakia Elder. He's also Darwin
Waterfront Corporation chairman and he's got an Honorary Doctorate of
(01:05):
Flinders University. He also does some of the best welcome
to countries you've ever seen. His name is Richard b Jo.
Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
You, Richard, Hey, good morning. How are you yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Really good? Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now, firstly,
what does the voice mean to you?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Progression? It's as simple as that. For me, it's a
way forward. I know that there's people out there that
will vote. No, I'm not telling people how to vote.
I'm saying that people educate your way around why you
want to vote that way unless your vote still know
that's fine, you know, everyone has a foodom of choice.
(01:48):
But what it means to me is a person that
grew up out remote and Elliott in the seventies, being
on my month's country seeing poverty, despair, poor healthcare. Additions
having family that still live in community today living in despair, poverty,
you know, and even being affected by personally my growing
(02:11):
up experiences. We need to make things better, we need
to progress, and to me, a yes vote will mean progression.
It means that we have a different strategy to actually
influence and say to the politicians, this is what our
people on the ground needs. This is what our communities,
(02:32):
this is what our families are saying. So I am
one hundred percent on the yes camp, and I do
respect the people that say no or are undecided. For me,
I grew up in a time of poverty and I've
seen improvements and I think of it as a giant ball.
If were able to push that ball one centimeter one
(02:53):
year over a twelve month here, it is still progression
and that's what we need to do.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Richard. One of the questions that we got asked quite
regularly is why why do you think this will make
a difference.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
It's an opportunity to make a difference because if we
actually get politicians listening to people who are on the
ground and making better decisions based on that information, then
that's going to generate change on the ground. So you know,
we're trying to me it's a reach out to an
(03:29):
opportunity where these recommendations and I talk about the social
determinants of health, you know, housing, health education. If we
were to put on something that was permanent, and we
made a recommendation in Parliament and was passed, it might
be something as simple as saying, well, we need to
have our languages taught in all schools. Now, if that
(03:53):
was approved and that became a permanent edition, then it's
not a wishy washy approach anymore. You know. If we
were to say something about we want all medical conditions,
medical clinics and medical access right across Australia equitably for
(04:13):
all Australians, then that means that we're not We're not
sitting in the water. We actually have a chance to
get in the boat. I think about the Australian people
as sitting in a boat and umbrick On people are
sitting in the water. So the Australian people can actually
reach from the boat, take our hands and pull us
in the boat where we belong with the rest of Australia.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Tell me, Richard, what do you say to those who
you know who at this point in time They're looking
at this and they're going, I'm worried that it's going
to be like an elitist representative group in Canberra rather
than being people in the community on the ground, aware
of what's sort of happening in the territory.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Well, I think that was already no to buy. The
Prime Minister when he made the announcement that it would
be an electoral process. So you know, I think it's
fair they have the people decide who they want to
represent them, you know, and their best interests, and that
was said with the announcement. So you can actually elect
who you want representing you, and that's democracy and that's fair.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Now tell me, how do you expect people in the
Northern Territory are going to vote overall? And I do
want to know, I'm asking, I'm going to be asking
you and do so. Helen's secretary quite similar questions. So
if I sound you know, if I sound like I'm
going down the list, that is why. But how do
you expect the people in the Northern Territory are going
to vote overall?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Well, firstly, let me say I have all respect for
Helen and how she chooses to vote as well. But
I'm hoping and I can't predict. No one can predict
the future. But all I say is I hope people
will sway towards a yes vote. And the reason why
is because it's also been announced that what do we
(06:05):
have currently happening is not working, so we need a
new approach and there will be people who will say
no for this reason or that reason to me. It's
about going back to the first point, which is progression
of our people. Because what we've tried has failed. We
know that much. That's fact. What we can do can
(06:28):
be successful. We don't know that well. But you know
what it's like. Our first leaders, they actually from sixty
seven when we became citizens, we had our first lawyers,
our first doctors. They went into a space unknown. We're
going into a space unknown. But if we're able to
test that and a successful great. If we don't test it,
(06:50):
nothing changes. The status quo is unacceptable.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now. I know that there are some people in the
Northern Territory right now feeling a bit disenfranchised due to
the fact that, you know, this sort of needs the
double vote. So obviously it needs the majority of states,
and then it needs you know, more than fifty percent
of Australians, of all Australians. But some Territorians feeling a
bit disenfranchised that our vote sort of in some ways
(07:15):
doesn't carry the same weight given the fact that the
territory is not you know, not counted in that state vote.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Sure well, all I'd say to the Territorians is if
you don't vote, or if you vote no, nothing changes
if you vote yes, and it may carry some sway,
I don't know, but you know, something's better than nothing.
And I'll take the history of the Northern Territory, especially
Darn back to Cyclone Tracy. That just didn't impact on
the Aboriginal people. It impacted on the community. The bombing
(07:46):
of Darwin, they didn't just bomb Aboriginal people, they bombed
all of Darwin and Territorians were in a together, black,
white or brindle. And so this is why this is
a call out for help. Because Aboriginal people are in
the water. Original people are in the boat. We're asking
you to reach down and grab us, give us a
hand and help us out of the water and put
(08:06):
us in the boat because that's where we should be.
And once we're there, you know, we're going to have
a better Australia, A profitable Australia, are better educated Australia
across the board, more equitable and equity, sorry, equality across Australia.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Richard, what do you say to those people that are
listening this morning, that are sort of sitting on the
fence and they're they're you know, there may be not
one hundred percent sure they've you know, they're they're hearing
kind of all the noise and they're and they're a
bit confused. What do you say to them this morning?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Go online and do your research, Go and have a look,
make a decision for yourself. At the end of the day,
you're in the pollen booth. But for me and my experience,
I'm voting yes because I know we need something here.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Well, Richard Fijo, I always appreciate your time, mate, and
really appreciate your having a chat with us this morning,
and I think it's an insightful discussion, and I appreciate
the respect that you give people. You know, whether, like
you said, whichever way they vote, just make sure you
educate yourself. And I certainly echo that sentiment. Don't do
(09:18):
it because you heard somebody you know tell you something,
or you know, if somebody said something on Facebook. Go
and find it yourself. Go read that information and work
it out for yourself what you're going to do.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Absolutely agree with you. Go and do the research. There's
a lot of stuff out there, but you know, if
you're going to do that research, make sure it's legitimate research,
you know, not just he said, yeah, you know, which
we do get across a lot of these days. Yeah,
if you're confused further, talk to someone about it.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Where do you get legitimate sources from?
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Yep. But I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks
so much for having a chat to us. And you know,
the way in which you're talking about it, about the
boat and Aussie's being on there, and you know, and
putting your hand out, I think it's like that's it's
a really nice way to put it. And and yeah,
I appreciate your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
No worries, we all are all these Yeah, thank.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
You, Yeah, good on you. Thanks so much for your time.
Richard
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