CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
As the far-right continues to peddle misinformation about the upcoming Indigenous Voice Referendum in an effort to get revenge over the humiliating 2022 Election, the YES campaign has been struggling to find a leader willing to put themselves in front of Rupert Murdoch’s attack dogs.
That was until today, when one of Australia’s most respected Northern Beaches elders arrived in Redfern to take charge.
Uncle Tony is back. And he’s not here to play marbles.
Tony Abbott’s transformation from a conservative and chauvinistic brand of ‘BoomerLib’ politician – to a champion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and empowerment was a career twist that nobody saw coming, especially his own colleagues.
However, after being ousted as Liberal leader by the more moderate Malcolm Turnbull, and then overlooked once again for the top job when the pentecostal Scott Morrison put his hand up – the once firebrand right-winger Tony Abbott began to explore a different style of politics.
Sitting in the political wilderness, Tony Abbott had to ask himself, if I am not born to rule… Then what am I? Luckily for Australia, Mr Abbott recognised that he was born to serve.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not ask Mr Abbott to be a minister in his new cabinet after taking the reins in 2018, but instead asked him to take on the role of the Government’s Indigenous Envoy, citing his close association with Aboriginal Australia after growing up in a six bedroom mansion in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and working for the Liberal Party for nearly three decades.
And when his First Nations brothers and sisters welcomed him to their communities with open arms, Tony Abbott had no choice but to run the ball up for them. Overnight, the Former Member For Warringah, Anthony John Abbott MP became to man we know today. Uncle Tony.
Some would argue that it was this championing of black rights that saw Tony Abbott kicked out of his blue-ribbon Liberal seat by the old money voters in Sydney’s North Shore.
And while he quietened down, he never gave up the fight.
Today, he’s bringing that fight back to Sydney.
“Ayyyy listen up you mob” said Uncle Tony, to a rally of screaming Koori schoolchildren in Redfern this afternoon.
“Envoy means messenger. If we don’t have a VOICE… we get messengers advising our government on the issues affecting blackfellas”
“And those gubbas in Canberra got lucky with me as envoy. But theres only one Uncle Tony… These whitefella envoys usually get it wrong”
“That’s why we need a voice. We need the constitution to include our mob, advising on issue that relate to our mob”
“So, in case anyone was wondering. I’m voting yes and so should you”
“VOTE YES FUCK YA”
