Former State MP Carol Martin and MLC Sandra Carr believe informed decisions essential in closing the gap

The first Indigenous woman elected to any Australian parliament, Geraldton-based Carol Martin, believes the good people of Australia were “hoodwinked” by the Voice’s No campaign. Ms Martin, a Yamatji woman and former Kimberley MLA, and current Agricultural MLC Sandra Carr both believe had people truly informed themselves on their decisions to vote Yes or No, it would have produced a different outcome. The Voice to Parliament referendum symbolised the first step in actioning the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and Ms Martin was simply hoping Australians were better. On Monday, Ms Martin said she was disappointed with the result but “definitely not surprised”. The Uluru Statement from the Heart has three calls to action — Voice, Treaty and Truth. The referendum held almost two weeks ago failed to receive a double majority of Yes votes, with more than 60 per cent of West Australians voting No. In the Greater Geraldton region, the No vote was about three-quarters. Ms Martin said the next step did not require a Voice. “The next step is truth, we don’t need a voice to tell the truth,” she said. Ms Martin is no stranger to pushing for change, elected to State Parliament in 2001, she said Australia needed common sense before genuine progress could be made. Informed consent is one of Ms Martin’s most important tools in decision-making, saying she wished people had made a more concerted effort to understand the Voice. But understanding is a practice which should’ve begun decades ago, she says. Ms Martin said teaching the true history of Australia in schools was an essential part of the process, and would help close the gap. “I can’t believe some idiot said if you don’t know, vote no — if you don’t know you should find out,” she said. “I know Australians are really good people . . . people were hoodwinked about the Voice”. Member for the Agricultural Region Sandra Carr said the decision for some people to not educate themselves on the Voice had resulted in confusion. “That confusion has then manifested into some really significant pain for some people,” she said. “Your silence in terms of solutions tells our Indigenous people that them dying younger, and their incarcerations are OK because you are not putting forward solutions.” Ms Carr believes proactive, community-based consultations are the next step forward in catering to the vulnerabilities of First Nations Australians.