Radio interview - ABC RN Drive

Release Date:
Transcript
E&OE

Subjects: Yunupingu, constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament, referendum.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Tributes have been flowing today for Indigenous land rights activist and Gumatj clan leader, Yunupingu. Yunupingu’s last name is being used by the ABC, in accordance with the wishes of his family. He died in north-east Arnhem Land, aged 74. In 1978, Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year. He was also the Garma festival chairman, a land rights stalwart, a singer, a painter and a force of the community.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: He was just an extraordinary, extraordinary leader and it's a great loss and I pay my respect to all of his family, but indeed for Indigenous Australians in particular, today will be a very difficult day.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s reaction to the news of Mr. Yunupingu’s passing. Joining me now is the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney. Welcome to you, Minister.

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good afternoon.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Yunupingu made quite an impact on the lives of countless First Nations Australians. First off, I'm sorry for your loss. What did he mean to you?

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS:  A remarkable leader. Someone that fought all his life for his people, for land rights, in particular, for recognition of Aboriginal people in this country. But he also loved Australia and today, like the Prime Minister said, is a very sad day and difficult day for Indigenous Australians. But it's a great loss for our country as well Andy.

ANDY PARK, HOST: What was your last contact with him? What did you talk about?

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: The last time I saw him was in the photograph I've seen on social media today, in his yellow shirt at the opening ceremony at the Garma Festival last August where he presented the yidaki to the Prime Minister. And I sat next to him at that festival.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Yunupingu, who was part of the Referendum Working Group for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In your comments earlier today, you dedicated the future success of the referendum to him. How vital was he in that process?

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS:  His belief in recognition, his great joy at the fact that there is going to be a referendum, and I was reminded at Wollongong today when I met with senior people from the Dharawal and the Yuin tribes of southern New South Wales, just how many of our people have gone before and spent their whole lives like Yunupingu fighting for the rights of our people.

ANDY PARK, HOST: The Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Julian Leeser spoke at the National Press Club today. He said that the Voice referendum has been programmed into an artificial timetable. That's his quote, and suggested that you're risking the social and racial harmony of the country by pushing ahead with a referendum success, well success not guaranteed. What did you make of those comments?

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: I'm very disappointed to be frank with you. I'm very disappointed and on a day such as the day, that the Shadow Minister could defy the wishes of First Nations people expressed through the Uluru Statement that this is a Voice to be enshrined in the constitution. The timetable has been well known for a very long time. And I make the point that the Shadow Minister and his government were in power for almost 10 years and did nothing. It is seven years almost Andy, since the Uluru Statement, and quite frankly, people have waited long enough.

ANDY PARK, HOST: The Liberals are having a party room meeting to decide their position on Wednesday. Would you urge them to let party members vote with their conscience?

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Well, we'll see what that party room meeting is really about. I get the sense that it's going to be about Mr. Dutton explaining the loss in Aston on the weekend, more than it will be about the Voice to Parliament. I have to say this, and I say with great sadness, is that we have worked collaboratively with the Opposition, they have not made one suggestion in the whole time that the words have been out, that the amendments have been out.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Minister they have suggested that you release the Solicitor General's legal advice. Will you be looking to do that?

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Can I say this very clearly, Andy, is that, right throughout this process, we had the expert legal group advising us, including people like Justice Hayne, including people like Anne Twomey, George Williams, Asmi Wood, and many others. The advice that we've received from them has been clearly examined. The release of the Solicitor General's advice is not practice and I am completely confident with the legal advice that we've received, right throughout this process. We have been extraordinarily careful, extraordinarily vigilant, particularly when it came to legal issues.

ANDY PARK, HOST: Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, thank you for taking the time this afternoon. Again, apologies for your, condolences for your loss.

LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Thank you so much, Andy. Good night.

ENDS