The Indigenous leader Noel Pearson has rejected John Howard’s call for campaigners against the voice to “maintain the rage”, responding that the yes campaign will “maintain the love, there’s no rage path for us”.
Pearson made the comments on Radio National on Thursday, arguing the no campaign is trying to “divert the conversation into negativity” after leading opponent Warren Mundine claimed without evidence that Anthony Albanese was responsible for unleashing “horrible racial abuse”.
Albanese will take the yes campaign to Tasmania on Thursday, campaigning with Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff and federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer, underscoring the breadth of support for the Indigenous voice.
In Sydney, the federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser will campaign with state Liberal MP Matt Kean and the former New South Wales premier Barry O’Farrell.
Howard, the former Liberal prime minister who promised constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians before the 2007 election, made his call to “maintain the rage” on Sky News on Monday after reports the no campaign could fall victim to complacency and low voter turnout.
On Thursday, Pearson told Radio National: “I was surprised that any eminent leader of the country would urge rage. I only say in response to it that, well, the no campaign might be inciting rage; we’re gonna incite love and faith and the removal of fear, [and] belief in Indigenous people.
“We need Australia to believe in my people. My people are good people. And they got a lot to contribute to the country.”
Pearson said the no campaign’s intention “is to exploit … fear about Indigenous people and fear about reconciliation”.
“I think our message is one of optimism and faith and belief. We’re going to believe in our fellow Australians, we’re going to believe in each other … Our yes campaign is based on love and faith.”
On Wednesday Mundine vowed to “fight this” voice, after Albanese confirmed the referendum to entrench it in the constitution would be held on 14 October.
“This thing is about division and dividing this country and the racial abuse that we’ve been hearing over the last few months,” Mundine claimed.
“You know, everyone knows the pressure that was put on me to send me almost to suicidal positions. And this is what this prime minister has done.
“This prime minister from day one had attacked people who had a different opinion to him, called them names, and that opened up the floor for the whole division to start, with all the horrible racial abuse, with all the horrible … bigotry that’s been going on out there, and it’s all Albo.
“He’s the one who started this, he’s the one who’s [brought] it out.”
Mundine did not specify any comments that Albanese had made about opponents, and Guardian Australia does not suggest he has ever used any terms of abuse.
On Thursday, Albanese responded: “I think people will make their own judgment about who’s making attacks.”
“And that was one just there from Warren Mundine,” he told ABC Melbourne. “I don’t intend to engage in an argument with him.”
“What I’m doing is putting forward a very positive agenda to unite the nation.
“And this shouldn’t be a party political advantage – it shouldn’t be something that does anything other than bring the country together.”
Albanese acknowledged that “it is unfortunate that there have been elements of commentary that happened [to be] derogatory of people – but I think people will make their own mind up about where that’s coming from”.
No campaigners have previously complained that in the Lowitja O’Donoghue oration in May, Albanese said Australians were sceptical of “doomsayers” and “Chicken Littles”.
“That’s nonsense,” Albanese responded. “I’ve called him nothing. I’ve called him nothing, at any time.”
