Noel Pearson: the voice gives Indigenous people responsibility, so they will also have to wear blame

Noel Pearson told the audience at the Meanjin oration success in the voice referendum would give Indigenous Australians responsibility for their own fate. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

The leading yes campaigner Noel Pearson says Australia must reach a point in its relationship with Indigenous people “where it is legitimate to blame us”.

Delivering the Meanjin oration at the Queensland University of Technology on Monday night, the Guugu-Yimithirr lawyer and founder of the Cape York Institute said the voice was “claiming the right to take responsibility”.