On a sad day, a glimmer of hope: Kooyong rejected cynicism and voted for a more generous and inclusive Australia.
Last night, the nation rejected a gracious invitation from Indigenous Australians to recognise them in the Constitution through a Voice to Parliament.
I feel great sadness about the result, as I’m sure you all do, but I unquestioningly accept that result.
This time will be particularly difficult for Indigenous Australians in our community and around the country. We need to recognise, acknowledge, and respect their hurt and disappointment.
We took steps to reconciliation in 1967; with Mabo and Wik; and with the Apology to the Stolen Generation.
We could have taken another step yesterday, but as a country we weren’t ready for that. I hope we will be soon.
But. While our country voted against the Voice, Kooyong voted strongly in favour of it.
I am immensely proud of the more than 750 volunteers who knocked on 20,000 doors and distributed 2,000 signs on the way to Kooyong recording one of the highest ‘Yes’ votes in the country. Thank you.
It continues our community’s journey — a journey that started at the last Federal election.
Once again, we have rejected cynicism and voted for a more generous and inclusive Australia.
Once again, the real conversations our hundreds of volunteers have had overcame the lies and disinformation spread by the Liberal Party — Peter Dutton’s Liberal Party.
Once again, we chose Active Hope, proudly displaying our independence in the face of negative party politics.
It wasn’t enough to change the country this time, but it might well be next time.
Thanks again, and stay in touch.
Best,
