NAREDLA JACOBS, HOST: The yes and no cases for the voice of referendum have been published by the Australian Electoral Commission. The 2000 word pamphlets have been prepared by advocates on each side. And joining us now from Darwin is Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Welcome to you, Senator. The Yes pamphlet has a subheading key facts. Now, you would have read the No pamphlet. Is that campaign also running on facts?
NT SENATOR MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY: Well, there are certainly sections of the No campaign, which are very questionable, and I'm sure people are identifying that already. Certainly, I think going for the personal in targeting individuals like Thomas Mayo and Teela Reid is wrong. You know, it's not a good look. This is about asking Australians to vote in a referendum to enhance the constitution. It's not about individuals.
JACOBS: Constitutional expert Professor Greg Craven says his words used in the no pamphlet have been taken out of context in a deeply, deeply misleading way, he says. We're hearing other allegations, of course being taken out of context as well. So how can Australians be sure what they're being told is truthful and factual? Should there be rules against being misleading and deceptive?
MCCARTHY: Well, this is the anomaly, really, isn't it? With the pamphlet and the Australian Electoral Commission, it's something we certainly discussed throughout legislation. What people receive is what they can receive from the no and the yes, I would just say this to Australians: ask questions and look at the behaviour of all sides and understand that this is a really simple request to all Australians to have a voice enshrined in the Parliament that gives support to First Nations people to improve our lives across the country. It really is a simple request and quite a generous one. And yet, you know, Australians have to be astute to some of the things that are going on in terms of the advocates against it.
JACOBS: Well, concerns that the no pamphlet raises are things like 'we don't know how many members will be on the Voice or whether they'll be elected or chosen'. The people who've written this pamphlet are members of Parliament. So won't they be debating the detail after the referendum and then be able to have a say on what the voice looks like?
MCCARTHY: Absolutely correct. Like all referendums, it's about the principle of the question that's put to people. And as we've debated in all hours, I mean, I was on my feet for 10 hours in the Senate, in the committee debate up till four in the morning, you know, reaffirming that it's the parliament- if there is a yes vote and we are successful- it is the parliament that will have carriage of all of that.
JACOBS: Do you think the 'Yes' needs to start fighting back and pulling out some other arguments to counter the'No' because it seems that 'No' are running on you know, making people fearful.
MCCARTHY: Well, 'Yes' is about optimism and hope. And that's what I'm about. I do believe that our country is much better than that. And we can rise above that and we will rise above that. This has to be about creating a future where our next generation of Australians do not have to be worrying about closing the gap, about the high rates of suicide, about the lack of educational and health opportunities for First nations people when we include First Nations people, as you know. We know we can find solutions that best work in those areas.
JACOBS: Senator, both pamphlets agree outcomes need to improve for First Nations people. We've had voices in Parliament before. Is this proposal really an unknown entity then?
MCCARTHY: Well, it's been a journey for quite some time. You know, the Uluru Statement from the Heart was in 2017. There were dialogs of thousands of people across the country who were involved in the lead up to that. This proposal is not new. It has been there and it is a proposal by First Nations people. It is not a proposal of Labor. It's not a proposal of the parliament, its a proposal by First Nations people. They are asking us as Australians to enable them to have a say in the policies and legislation that impact their lives.