Former Senator Amanda Vanstone Breaks Silence on Political Ego
Voice to Parliament Advocates Accused of Aggression
Vanstone Joins Chorus of Critics
Former Senator Amanda Vanstone has added her voice to the growing chorus of critics who have accused Voice to Parliament advocates of driving people away with their aggression. Vanstone, a former Howard government minister and ambassador to Italy, said that the advocates' tactics were "alienating" people who would otherwise be sympathetic to the cause.
"I think there's a lot of people who are genuinely interested in the Voice, but they're being put off by the way the advocates are going about it," Vanstone told The Canberra Times. "They're being aggressive and they're not listening to people who have concerns. That's not the way to win people over."
Vanstone's comments come as the debate over the Voice reaches a fever pitch. The government is currently considering a referendum on the issue, which would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a say in the development of laws and policies that affect them.
Supporters of the Voice say it is a necessary step towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. However, opponents argue that it would create a separate and unequal system of government. The debate is expected to intensify in the lead-up to the referendum, which is likely to be held in 2023.
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