Where do we go from here? Yorta Yorta man Ian Hamm reflects on the post-referendum landscape at Barak Wonga

Reflections on failure and fallout

Ian reflected on the result of the October 2023 referendum and underscored the inherent challenges the Yes Campaign faced in actualising the Uluru Statement from the Heart. 

He said the attempt to take a document of purity, of hope, of ambition and try to “make it real” revealed a distinct lack of understanding not only of the Australian electorate but of the Australian character.

The referendum was not just about a constitutional amendment but a broader reflection of the place of Aboriginal people in Australia.  

“It was never clear to the bulk of Australians if ‘yes’ is the answer – what is the question?”

Ian said the question the referendum was asking Australians to consider was should Aborigines be able to speak? “Should I as a voter allow the Aborigines to talk about things that are about them – yes or no? Simple question, simple answer”.

Discussing the political fallout, Ian acknowledged the potential for opportunistic exploitation of the referendum's defeat. He expresses concern over the setback in state government opposition to treaty legislation, lamenting the re-politicisation of Indigenous affairs after years of effort to remove politics from the equation.

“This wasn’t just defeat of an idea, the campaign had been run on political lines. I worked hard for years and years to take the politics out of Indigenous affairs. And it just got blown up.”