Where neighbours’ stance on Voice is black and white

2 months ago 47

By Rex Martinich

September 22, 2023 — 5.35pm

A run-of-the-mill suburban thoroughfare has produced a striking illustration of opposing views connected the Indigenous dependable to parliament.

There is nary grey successful the referendum statement betwixt these neighbours, wherever the enactment betwixt ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ is drawn on the spot boundary.

A thoroughfare successful Wynnum wherever neighbours precise openly beforehand their opposing Voice views.

While Queensland mightiness not beryllium considered a cardinal run crushed by immoderate campaigners, the households successful the coastal suburb of Wynnum successful Brisbane’s eastbound person taken it up with gusto.

One house, painted black, displays signs urging passing drivers, motorcycle riders and joggers utilizing the fashionable oceanfront esplanade to “Vote Yes” and has a monolithic Aboriginal emblem connected the store door.

The location adjacent doorway – painted achromatic specified arsenic galore others successful the suburb – urges the aforesaid assemblage of mostly tourists, anglers and boating enthusiasts to “Vote No to the dependable of division” and flies an Australian flag.

Comment has been sought from residents astatine the ‘No’ house. There was nary reply to a sound astatine the doorway astatine the ‘Yes’ house.

The 2 houses person have enlivened the Voice debate.

Open advocacy for either broadside of the dependable statement appeared to beryllium absent astatine adjacent houses, low-rise flat blocks and businesses.

But 1 hatchback car parked connected the street, sporting P-plates, had a “Vote No” sticker connected the backmost window.

As the October 14 referendum connected a First Nations dependable draws closer, intelligence wellness experts person developed caller resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander radical who consciousness adversely impacted by the code of the debates.

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation has partnered with Indigenous HealthInfoNet to supply other support.

“We are witnessing first-hand the adverse consequences of this statement wrong our communities,” NACCHO main enforcement Pat Turner said.

This was manifesting arsenic heightened intelligence distress, an accrued request for assistance and greater usage of societal and affectional wellbeing and intelligence wellness services.

“The resources we’ve developed are not the reply but are captious tools to assistance support our assemblage harmless and well,” Turner said.

The Healing Foundation, which represents members of the Stolen Generations, concurred.

“These resources person tools and tips connected managing accent for self, household and assemblage and managing accrued misinformation,” acting main enforcement Shannan Dobson said.

“While these resources are for the existent heightened racism, they are utile tools for our mob for wide wellbeing.”

13YARN 13 92 76

Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905

-AAP