[Vinylted]

Doubling down on division.​

The answer to divisiveness is to remember we’re one together as Australians
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​ Dear Garth, Doubling down on division. That’s been the theme of this week. Albanese and the ‘Yes’ campaign are panicking that their effort to divide the nation through the Voice is in trouble. But instead of dropping the referendum, they’ve resorted to abuse and more division. In response to my comments about how Welcome to Country ceremonies have gone too far, ‘Yes’ campaign leader and member of the Prime Minister’s referendum working group Marcus Stewart said I “hate Aboriginal people”. What a disgrace. Oh, and Marcus is married to current Labor Senator Jana Stewart – so do you think there might also be some partisan political motivation there as well? This has been typical of the Yes campaign. Divisive language, personal attacks, and political partisanship: all because I have spoken up to say I am proud to be Australian and that we, as a country, need to be one together, not two divided. And that’s my point about Welcome to Country ceremonies. There’s no problem with acknowledging our history and, in the right context and spirit, there is a place for a more formal “welcome” ceremony. But to have these acknowledgements infiltrating everywhere from schools to workplaces to footy matches to churches is going too far. I don’t need to keep being recognised for the colour of my skin. I want to be treated as a full human person, just as anyone else. Aboriginal people are human beings with dignity and potential. It’s divisive and patronising to treat us differently like this. At the same time, we can never be reconciled as a country as long as we keep telling non-Indigenous Australians that it is not their country; that they need to be ‘welcomed’ because they’re visitors or invaders. It’s wrong and it’s divisive. We all share this country together, and whether you became Australian 60,000 years ago, 60 years ago, 6 years ago, or 6 minutes ago: we are all Australian and this is our home. That’s why we need to rethink these “welcomes” because you and I are already welcome here. This is our home. And we’re in it together, not divided. Yours for REAL solutions, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Senator for the Northern Territory About Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is your Senator for the Northern Territory, and the former deputy mayor of Alice Springs. Contact Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Country Liberal Party (NT) 2.229 McMillans Road, Jingili NT 0810 Tel: (08) 8996 9259 Email: [email protected] Authorised by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Country Liberal Party (NT) 2.229 McMillans Road, Jingili NT 0810.​ This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving emails, click here.​