Warren Mundine, a prominent campaigner against the Indigenous voice to parliament, has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of attacking opponents of the voice and unleashing 'horrible racial abuse', linking the public debate to his own mental health struggles. Mundine made the claims without providing evidence, appearing alongside Nationals senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price at a press conference in Tasmania after Albanese confirmed the referendum date of 14 October.
Mundine said: 'This thing is about division and dividing this country and the racial abuse that we’ve been hearing over the last few months. Everyone knows the pressure that was put on me to send me almost to suicidal positions. And this is what this prime minister has done.' He alleged that Albanese had 'from day one attacked people who had a different opinion to him, called them names, and that opened up the floor for the whole division to start'. Guardian Australia notes that Mundine did not specify any comments by Albanese, and does not suggest the prime minister has used any terms of abuse.
Albanese responded on Thursday, calling Mundine's accusation 'nonsense' and stating: 'I’ve called him nothing, at any time.' He added: 'I think people will make their own judgment about who’s making attacks.' The prime minister reiterated his commitment to a positive campaign, saying: 'What I’m doing is putting forward a very positive agenda to unite the nation.'
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton urged Australians not to feel 'bullied into a position' on the voice, accusing Albanese of deliberately withholding detail until after the vote. Dutton also sent a Liberal party fundraising email asking for donations to 'defeat this risky and divisive Voice'. Meanwhile, former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard urged opponents on Sky News to 'maintain the rage', while Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the debate should not be about 'anger or fear', but about 'recognition and listening'.
