Former NRL and boxing firebrand Anthony Mundine has lashed the Federal Government’s Voice to Parliament referendum, claiming Indigenous Aussies are being paid to promote it and that a successful Yes vote would lead to slavery.
The Voice Referendum aims to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution, creating an advisory body to get their input on policies.
According the the Albanese Government, a Yes vote would acknowledge heritage, promote inclusivity, address disparities and foster reconciliation.
However, the Federal Government is struggling to gain traction for the referendum with an estimated 1.7million voters remaining undecided as the Yes campaign fails to send a clear message about what the changes would mean for the nation.
A number of high-profile Indigenous Australians have expressed their opposition to the change including Mundine’s cousin, former Labor Party president Warren Mundine.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and prominent Indigenous leader and Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe are also against the Yes vote.
Anthony Mundine famously walked out on rugby league in 2000, citing racism in the sport as one of the reasons he defected to boxing
Mundine sensationally walked out on rugby league midway throught the 2000 season, driven by the allure of boxing after a friend, Abdi Osman, shared a Muhammad Ali.
His decision was partly attributed to perceived racism within footy, adding to his motivation to transition to boxing.
He has openly railed against racism during and after his sporting career and has now spoken out against The Voice, making the bold claim that Indigenous people and organisations were being paid to back it.
‘I see my brothers pushing and organisations pushing the Yes vote,’ he said.
‘Now it’s detrimental to the people and not just blackfellas, to everyone.
‘Because they want to take the sovereignty rights, basically it is a new world order agenda to take over the land.
‘They’re using trickery to make that happen.
‘A lot of organisations are getting paid to push the Yes vote, it’s all about getting money. A lot of community members are getting money to push the Yes vote.
‘If that Yes vote goes through we’re all well and truly you know what.
‘Because they want to enslave humanity man, this new world order stuff.
So we’ve got to stand up and fight. Fight for our people, fight for our country.’
Mundine fought many hardened boxers in the ring, but has also fought hard against racism in all its forms both during and after his sporting career
Mundine believes that the Federal Government is paying Indigenous Australians to support The Voice and has urged them to stop
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is struggling to get The Voice referendum over the line
Mundine also questioned why a Voice to parliament was necessary when there were already Indigenous leaders in parliament as elected officials.
‘Why do we need a voice? We’ve got sisters and brothers in parliament already. We’ve got people that can act on our behalf that do it right,’ he said.
‘Why are they pushing this so hard now? Because they want to get us in the constitution to where we become British subjects and under their regime.
‘If that happens, then we have no sovereignty of the land.
‘All you mob out there trying to push the Yes thing, you’ve got to stop that. It’s detrimental to our people.
‘They’re trying to make out like it’s a good thing, like they’re doing something to include us, but we don’t want to be included, from the get-go.
‘We don’t want to be included because if we’re included then the new world order and the takeover is on.’
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has openly spoken out against the Voice
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price speaks during the WA Liberals for No Campaign Launch in Perth
Senator Thorpe is the face of the Blak Sovereign Movement which opposes both the Yes and No campaigns.
‘The Voice debate is not just a waste of resources, it is a waste of your time and energy,’ the movement’s website states.
‘Something that pretends to be a great change, but provides none, is not a step in the right direction.
‘When something isn’t real it is not better than nothing. The Voice is nothing but cheap window dressing to constitutional recognition.’
Thorpe has spoken passionately against The Voice this year and believes nothing will change until Australian society changes.
‘We should call off the referendum… It has caused nothing but harm and division. And for what? There won’t be change until this society changes,’ she told the National Press Club.
‘Until this society’s thinking, values, attitudes and systems have been revolutionised in order to ensure real self-determination, we cannot continue the legacy of the Australian colony.’