Australians have cast their vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

The proposal, to formally recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and to create an advisory body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to make representations to the federal government, has been resoundingly defeated. […]

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the result is “good for our country”.

He thanked No campaign leaders Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine.

“No one is owed more gratitude than each of these individuals,” he said.

“They have suffered through deeply personal and offensive attacks.”

Mr Dutton said the Coalition wants to see Indigenous disadvantage addressed.

“We just disagree on the Voice being the solution,” he said.

Senator Price;

Calling for an end to “academics and activists” thinking they knew better than people on the ground in remote communities, she said that a new way of thinking was required.

“We should not maintain the racism of low expectations in this country,’’ she said. “We are all part of the fabric of this nation.”

Senator Price said she wanted to thank the Australian people for “believing in our nation.”

“The Australian people have overwhelmingly voted No. They have said No to division in our Constitution along the lines of race,” she said.

“They have said No to the gas-lighting, bullying, to the manipulation. They have said No to grievance and the push from activists to suggest that we are a racist country when we are absolutely not a racist country. […]

In an emotional speech, she described the Voice referendum as the “biggest gaslighting event our nation has ever experienced”.

“We are sick to death of being told how racist we are, how horrible we are. Our own children are being taught not to be proud to call themselves Australians in this country,’’ she said.

Senator Price has argued a Voice would “constitutionally enshrine” a victimhood mentality in the country.

“It doesn’t belong here,”