The Greens initially endorsed the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart in its entirety,which advocates for structural reforms to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution through a sequence of measures from Voice,followed by treaty and then a truth commission. The Greens’ position is that a different order is required,prioritising a treaty instead,which begins with truth-telling. The Voice is placed last.
During his speech to thePress Club this month,Greens leader Adam Bandt said:“If we really want success to happen,it’s a mistake to do it in any other order. We need to do it in that order where we tell the truth,then strike a treaty,and that will put us in the best position for reforms like the Voice to succeed.”
Blackwell says supporting the Uluṟu statement and Voice,treaty,truth was no longer welcome in the Australian Greens.
“The bullying,harassment,and abuse I have received from people in the Greens,including from party officials and pre-selected federal candidates,over my support for Voice,treaty,truth got to the point where I decided to resign my membership from the party,” he said.
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe,who was instrumental in the establishment of the Blak Greens,said the statements made on social media by Blackwell were the first allegations of bullying she had seen within the group.
“My door is open if they want to have a respectful conversation,” Thorpe said.