One of Australia’s most high-profile Aboriginal families is at odds over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – with world champion boxer Anthony Mundine even slamming it as ‘straight up trickery’ and urging a ‘No’ vote.
Anthony, also known by his nickname ‘The Man’, has urged his fans to vote against enshrining the advisory body in the constitution at a referendum this year, expressing fears ‘sovereignty could be ceded’ to the Federal government.
His second cousin Warren Mundine – the former Labor president – is likewise voting ‘No’ and has taken a key 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 the CEO of Reconciliation Australia.
Warren Mundine told Daily Mail Australia his family is like any other in Australia – some will vote No, others Yes, and many are still undecided.
Anthony Mundine has described the Voice as ‘straight up trickery’ and expressing concerns that ‘sovereignty of the land could be ceded’ if the referendum were to pass
One-time Labor leader Warren Mundine told Daily Mail Australia his family is like any other in Australia – some will vote No, others Yes, and many are still undecided. He is voting no
Warren couldn’t be prouder of his niece, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine, and harbours no resentment toward anyone in his family who chooses to vote Yes
Regardless, he couldn’t be prouder of his niece, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine, and harbours no resentment toward anyone in his family who chooses to vote Yes.
The duo found themselves at opposite ends of the debate but Mr Mundine insists there is no bad blood when they catch up regularly for family dinners or coffees.
‘In our family there is a wide range of opinions, just like any other family,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘When we get together, we talk about family stuff – the footy, our lives. We don’t let the Voice interfere with family business.
‘We love each other and I am very, very proud of Karen. She has had an incredible career and she is an amazing woman.’
Mr Mundine has no doubt there are countless other families across Australia who find themselves in a similar situation as referendum campaigning heats up.
The Australian public will take to the polls in a referendum between October and December this year to determine whether a Voice to Parliament should be enshrined in our Constitution.
While Warren and Anthony have actively campaigned against the Voice, Karen helped the government decide the referendum question in her role on the referendum advisory group, alongside controversial activists Thomas Mayo and Teela Reid.
Mr Mundine has no doubt there are countless other families across Australia who find themselves in a similar situation as referendum campaigning 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 engage in the debate
Ms Mundine advocates for ‘a Voice for generations’ in her role for Reconciliation Australia, but notes that opinions will vary across the political and social spectrum.
‘At a national scale, we ask people to consider and think about this seriously, because we all get a say on changing the constitution,’ she said.
Reconciliation Australia released a statement confirming support for the Voice in February, which Ms Mundine described as a ‘clear expression of support for the three main actions in the Uluru Statement from the Heart; Voice, Treaty and Truth-telling’.
Warren 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’s been a featured speaker.
Since the Voice debate ramped up, Mr Mundine said he is occasionally asked whether it’s ‘a cold Christmas lunch’ between relatives who are 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 engage in the debate
Ms Mundine advocates for ‘a Voice for generations’ in her role for Reconciliation Australia, but notes that opinions will vary across the political and social spectrum
‘But we’re really not. It doesn’t matter – we’re a family,’ he said.
‘We’re not in a civil war here. We joke, we laugh, that’s how we are at the end of the day… we’re not kicking the boot in to each other.’
Mr Mundine said every few weeks he and his family unite for ‘coffee and a feed in Redfern’.
He said: ‘We’re just like the rest of Australia. Some of my family haven’t made up their minds yet, others are voting No – I think a large per cent of my family are voting No – but there are others that 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’s been a featured speaker
Mr Mundine and his famous second cousin, boxer and footballer Anthony Mundine, are staunch opponents of the Voice
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