Traditional owners want greater focus on Indigenous issues after failed Voice referendumBBy Baz RuddickBy Lily NothlingStateline14m ago14 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 7:56pmTraditional owners believe Australia is at a political crossroad on Indigenous issues. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)abc.net.au/news/traditional-owners-call-for-focus-indigenous-issues/105223960Link copiedShareShare articleAt Mungalla Station in north Queensland, the rich history of the Nywaigi people and the impact of the early days of colonialism are ingrained in the lush landscape.For two decades traditional owner Jacob Cassady has run tours on the working cattle station — telling visitors from around the world about the colonial history of the region.The station was run by white settlers and was historically significant with Nywaigi people working the land until their displacement in the 20th century.It was also home to South Sea Islanders, taken from their homes as part of the black birding trade from the Pacific islands.Jacob Cassady runs cultural tours at Mungalla Station in north Queensland. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)Concerns grow after referendumFar from the halls of parliament house, traditional owners and Indigenous elders from north Queensland are keenly watching on as the election campaign plays out.Mr Cassady believes the country is at a crossroad in the wake of the failed Voice to Parliament vote of 2023.Wetlands at Mungalla Station. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)"Aboriginal people have been used as a political football for many, many years," he says."I just have a feeling that those embers of racism that were evident in that colonisation period — the fans are blowing those winds of racism across this country again."For me, personally, it's concerning for my children and their children."Mungalla Station is located east of Ingham. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)He says he is worried about how conversations around Indigenous issues are playing out in Australian society as a whole."I think it's an opportunity for all Australians to be proud of their Indigenous cultures," he says."It's not just for Indigenous people. We should take the view that we're all Australians and we have an amazing Indigenous history, and we've got an amazing European history here … that whole story should be an Australian story that we're all proud of."Jacob Cassady is concerned about a resurgence of racism in Australia. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)Mr Cassady says a new government needs to focus on improving the outcomes for Indigenous people — beginning with education — by looking at where money is being spent and better focusing it."Our literacy and numeracy in our communities are horrendous. We've got to really start putting effort into programs that work," he says."An area we have to look at is governance [in indigenous organisations] and making sure that taxpayers' money is being spent where it's supposed to go."Stay updated:Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trailCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenIndigenous issues placed on backburnerDr Bartholomew Stanford is a senior lecturer in Indigenous studies at James Cook University and says recently there has been a global trend toward conservatism when it comes to Indigenous issues.When Anthony Albanese came to power in 2022, Indigenous recognition was front and centre, but the referendum result became a "barometer" for the government to measure the public's attitude towards improving it. Dr Bartholomew Standford says Indigenous communities feel like they've been "left in the dark" politically. (Supplied)"The government has basically no appetite for Indigenous rights recognition at the moment and there's been a strong pivot to economic initiatives," he says.He believes Indigenous communities are feeling like they have been "left in the dark" politically."The Labor government under Anthony Albanese committed to recognising the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, but post referendum, they have seemingly walked away from the other two principles, which is truth telling and treaty making," he says.He says while for the government, the "tone on Indigenous policy" has remained static since the referendum result, Peter Dutton as opposition leader has "sown seeds of division.""He has said that he's unwilling to stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at official government press conferences and there seems to be a willingness from the Coalition as well to bring the Indigenous affairs portfolio under much closer scrutiny," he says.Peter Dutton with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price campaigning against a Voice to Parliament. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)In Queensland, the newly elected Liberal National Party state government scrapped the truth-telling inquiry and Path to Treaty process.Both were established by the previous Labor government, and the public hearings involving community members had already started.Calls for 'transformative change' as election loomsCatherine Liddle says governments have shirked their responsibility to close the gap. (ABC News: Ian Redfearn)Catherine Liddle is the chief executive at SNAICC, the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family services, and says commitments from the campaigning parties have been lacking."Any election campaign is an opportunity to do something fantastic," she says."The government knows that transformative change is needed."Failure of states and territories laid bare in new dataPhoto shows Selwyn is wearing a light blue button up shirt and is sitting at a boardroom table. He is wearing reading glassesThe Productivity Commission says governments are shirking "meaningful action" to close the gap.Earlier this year the Productivity Commission made a statement that governments were shirking "meaningful action" to close the gap, with only four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets on track to be met nationally.Ms Liddle says the report is a "wake-up call"."This is the point where we say all governments lean into that report, all governments invest in those priority reforms that say work differently with your communities."Share responsibility, respond to what is actually needed, invest in strengthening communities, invest in children and we'll see very different outcomes."Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Alf Lacey. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)Palm Island, in Queensland's north, is Australia's largest discreet Indigenous community in Australia with a population of about 4,000 people.Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Alf Lacey says he would like governments to look at his community and help facilitate change on the island by helping them achieve economic empowerment."We still have more work to do, particularly for livability, cost of living in our communities, better freight subsidies, certainly better grocery prices in our communities, and more importantly, continuing to advocate with the government in terms of housing," Mr Lacey says.He says overcrowding is a real issue as well as economic empowerment."My message to the Albanese government, the opposition, other parties and independent members is to concentrate more on economic opportunities in our communities," he says."When you have the butcher, baker and the candlestick maker it makes a town work and that's a no brainer."Read more about the federal election:How much Climate 200 has donated to 19 independentsCoalition tapping into community concerns about crime ahead of electionFind out how your views line up with the major parties with Vote CompassWant even more? 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