The Socialist Equality Party urges workers and youth to reject both the Yes and the No cases presented by the ruling political establishment and calls for an active boycott campaign to oppose the referendum itself.
In the struggle to end the oppression of Aboriginal people, the critical issue is the development of an independent political movement of the working class, directed against the entire political establishment, its program of war and austerity, and the capitalist system itself.
The findings of the Workers Inquiry which we are posting for the first time have a direct bearing on the issues raised by the Voice referendum that seeks to strengthen the capitalist state and obscure the ruling-class agenda of war and austerity.
Like the Voice plan, the 1999 republican referendum was a big business-backed project to strengthen the anti-democratic Constitution while presenting a false progressive image for Australian capitalism.
While attendees were undoubtedly motivated by concern over the dire conditions facing indigenous people, the rallies had an essentially right-wing, nationalist and pro-government character.
