Australia, Waddaya Reckon?! | Life after the referendum

Summary

One year after Australians rejected the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, a group of First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians reflect on what the referendum meant and what should happen next. Their views differ sharply, but many describe the vote as a defining and painful moment that exposed deep divisions over Indigenous rights, history and national identity.

First Nations contributors speak of disappointment, grief and anger at the result, while also describing the referendum as an occasion for conversations about Indigenous issues that might not otherwise have happened. Some say the campaign’s misinformation and fearmongering contributed to the No vote; others say they were unclear about what the proposal would do, opposed adding bureaucracy, or preferred practical local solutions. Several non-Indigenous participants who supported No say they saw no advantage in the Voice or believed existing Indigenous representatives could achieve better outcomes.

The interviews also reveal contrasting understandings of fairness and opportunity. Some contributors describe Australia as a place where anyone can succeed through effort; others point to disparities affecting Indigenous people, including deaths in custody, children in out-of-home care, limited services in remote communities and suicide. Participants connect these issues to the country’s history, ongoing racism and the failure to give First Nations people a meaningful say in decisions affecting them.

Education is another recurring theme. Some interviewees say they learned little about Indigenous history at school, while one recalls being taught racist and false claims about Aboriginal people. Several argue that more honest history and truth-telling are necessary for understanding the present.

The referendum’s aftermath has affected people differently. Some say it did not change their personal relationships, while others describe being shocked by the level of division or encountering more racism, particularly online. Contributors disagree over whether reconciliation is alive or even necessary, but many call for continued work on recognition, equality and better outcomes. First Nations participants emphasize that their sovereignty was never ceded; others describe the country as shared, or say people should work together. Despite exhaustion and disappointment, several express hope and determination to keep pursuing change.

Presenters and contributors

• Sienna is addressed by first name in the subtitles.
• The other interviewees are not identified by name in the subtitles.