In this interview, Daniel Wild appeared on The Kenny Report – Sky News Australia to discuss the IPA’s research on the Voice to Parliament Referendum.
All media appearances posted onto the IPA website are directly related to the promotion and dissemination of IPA research.
Below is a transcript of the interview.
Danica De Giorgio:
Well, let’s return now to the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s report in Victoria, which as I mentioned earlier, included 100 recommendations including financial benefits to make up for “Injustice, which has occurred during and as a result of the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples’ territories.” Joining me now to discuss this is Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs, Daniel Wild. Daniel, thanks for your time. Look, I was quite gobsmacked to be honest by some of the recommendations, especially this idea of indigenous Victorians to be treated separately and offered tax relief and cash compensation. What was your read on the report?
Daniel Wild:
Well, I was gobsmacked too Danica, and I think your editorial was really bang on earlier today. It would create a two tiered society and the permanent racial division of Victorians. It would send us back to the pre-1967 days. In 1967, you’ll remember we had a referendum in this country where 90% of Australians voted to remove references of race in our constitution to make our society more whole and more equal and to end the racial separatism. This would undo all of the work that has been done by Australians for decades.
When I see indigenous people in our society, I don’t see them as separate to me. I see them as equal to me as fellow Australians, and we should all have the same rights and the same entitlements as Australians. I am shocked at this report. This is how democracy dies by creating a two tiered system. Not only would it, as you rightly say, lead to reparations payments, not only would it mean that indigenous Victorians would be exempt from certain taxes, it would also pave the way for a certain group in our society to have access to welfare and healthcare ahead of others in our society.
I don’t want to go down this path. Victorians don’t want to go down this path. This is why we voted no to racial division with the Voice to Parliament. But I am concerned that this government is going to steamroll mainstream Australians and forge ahead with this incredibly divisive set of recommendations.
Danica De Giorgio:
Well, it’s like Jacinta Allan wants to make it part of her legacy or something to make herself feel better. What does it say about the contempt that the Victorian Premier is showing? Nobody asked for a state voice to parliament, but it’s going ahead. Nobody voted for a treaty, but it’s going ahead. She hasn’t ruled in anything or out for these recommendations. What mandate does she have to pursue this?
Daniel Wild:
Well, exactly right. Jacinta Allan is showing complete and total contempt for mainstream Victorians. She’s showing contempt for the Democratic process. What this shows is that the elites in this society don’t care what you think. They don’t care how you vote. They’ve got their own ideology and they are going to implement it anyway, and we’ve not only seen it with this Danica, we’ve seen it with the steamrolling of regional communities in Victoria with the wind farms and the solar panels where regional communities have said no, and the government has said, “We’re going to take your land anyway.” Victorians have said, “No, we don’t want racial division.” And Jacinta Allan and her government has said, “We don’t care what you think. We don’t care about your vote. We are going to do it anyway. Too bad.”
Danica De Giorgio:
And let’s not forget as well, Daniel, any talk of compensation, who’s going to pay for it? It’s going to be the taxpayer, and Victoria is already in a world of debt.
Daniel Wild:
Well, that’s right. When we’re talking about compensation, let’s be honest about this. It means reparations payments. It means taxes on mainstream Victorians to be distributed to a certain group based on their race. In this case, indigenous Victorians. For what though? For what claim? The claim that we’re a bad country. The claim that our colonial history is one filled with violence and dispossession. Australia is not perfect, but we are without peer. And the fundamental problem of this report is that it comes from a place of hate. It doesn’t come from a place of unity or a place of love, and it is punishment. This is punishment being meted out by the activist class because Australians voted no to their divisive policy at the referendum.
Danica De Giorgio:
Yeah, so well put. It does come from a place of hate and nobody ever voted for this level of division. In fact, we all said no. And it’s a disgrace that Jacinta Allan is ignoring the will of the people and still forging ahead. Daniel Wild, good to speak with you. Thanks so much for coming on the show this evening. Really appreciate it.
This transcript featuring Daniel Wild on The Kenny Report from 2 July 2025 has been edited for clarity.
