One of Australia’s most high-profile Aboriginal families is at odds with Aboriginal Voice to Parliament – with world champion boxer Anthony even denouncing it as ‘straight up trickery’ and calling for a ‘No’ vote.
Anthony has urged his fans to vote against enshrining the advisory body in the constitution in a referendum this year, fearing it could lead to a ‘handover of sovereignty’ to the federal government.
His second cousin Warren Mundine – the former Labor president – is similarly voting ‘No’ and has taken a prominent position in the political campaign against it.
However, Warren’s high-profile niece, Karen, sits on the government’s official advisory board for the referendum and is a proud advocate for ‘Yes’ as CEO of Reconciliation Australia.
Warren Mundine told Daily Mail Australia his family was like others in Australia – some would vote no, others yes, and many still undecided.
Anthony Mundine described the Voice as ‘outright fraud’ and expressed concern that if the referendum passed ‘the sovereignty of the land could be handed over’
One-time Labor leader Warren Mundine told Daily Mail Australia his family was like others in Australia – some would vote no, others yes, and many still undecided. He is voting no
Warren couldn’t be more proud of her niece, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine, and has no grudge against anyone in her family who wants to vote yes.
In any case, he couldn’t be prouder of his niece, Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia, and he has no grudge against anyone in his family wanting to vote Yes.
The pair have found themselves at opposite ends of the debate but Mr Mundine insists there is no bad blood when they come together for regular family dinners or coffees.
He told Daily Mail Australia, ‘Our family has a wide range of views like any other family.
‘When we get together, we talk about family stuff – footy, our lives. We don’t let the voice interfere with the family business.
‘We love each other and I’m so proud of Karen. She’s had an incredible career and is an amazing woman.’
Mr Mundine has no doubt there are countless other families across Australia who find themselves in similar situations as the referendum campaign heats up.
The Australian people will vote in a referendum between October and December this year to decide whether a Voice to Parliament should be included in our constitution.
While Warren and Anthony actively campaigned against VOICE, Karen helped the government decide the referendum question in her role on the Referendum Advisory Group alongside controversial activists Thomas Mayo and Tila Reid.
Mr Mundine has no doubt there are countless other families across Australia who find themselves in similar situations as the referendum campaign heats up.
Anthony Mundine — who is Warren’s second cousin — has been passionately advocating for the No side, making guest speaker appearances at rallies and urging his fans to get involved in the debate.
Ms Mundine advocates ‘a voice for generations’ in her introduction to Reconciliation Australia, but notes that views will vary across the political and social spectrum.
“At a national level, we ask people to take it seriously and think, because we all get a say in changing the constitution,” he said.
Reconciliation Australia released a statement in February confirming support for VOICE, which Ms Mundine described as a clear expression of support for the three main actions of the Uluru Statement from the Heart; Voices, Contracts and Truth-telling’.
Warren Mundine has a long and well-documented history of supporting her niece in her career, describing her as her ‘female hero’ on International Women’s Day in 2020 and attending several events where she was a featured speaker.
As the Voice debate rages, Mr Mundine said he is sometimes asked if it is ‘a cold Christmas lunch’ between relatives at odds over the Voice.
Anthony Mundine — who is Warren’s second cousin — has been passionately advocating for the No side, making guest speaker appearances at rallies and urging his fans to get involved in the debate.
Ms Mundine advocates ‘A Voice for Generations’ in her role for Reconciliation Australia, but notes that views will vary across the political and social spectrum.
‘But we really aren’t. It doesn’t matter – we are a family,’ he said.
‘We are not in a civil war here. We joke, we laugh, at the end of the day that’s who we are… we’re not kicking each other’s boots.’
Mr Mundine said every few weeks he and his family get together for ‘coffee and a feed on redfern’.
He said: ‘We are just like the rest of Australia. Some of my family still haven’t made up their minds, others are voting no – I think a large percentage of my family are voting no – but there are others who are going to vote yes.’
Mr Mundine has a long and well-documented history of supporting his niece in her career, describing her as his ‘female hero’ on International Women’s Day in 2020 and attending several events where she was a featured speaker.
Mr Mundine and his famous second cousin, the boxer and footballer Anthony Mundine, are staunch opponents of the Voice.