Stan Grant, one of Australia’s most respected journalists and thinkers, has come forward with a raw and deeply personal take on why many Australians rejected the Voice to Parliament. In doing so, he didn’t hold back—especially when speaking about the role of his former employer, the ABC.
The Voice referendum, once seen by supporters as a historic opportunity to enshrine Indigenous representation in Australia’s Constitution, ended in a national “No.” Grant believes the public’s response wasn’t just about policy or constitutional detail—it was about something deeper. Something Australia still struggles to face.
A Deeper Cultural Divide
In his candid remarks, Stan Grant revealed the real reason many rejected the Voice: a deep discomfort with confronting the legacy of colonisation and its ongoing impacts. “This wasn’t about the Voice,” he said. “It was about the stories we don’t want to hear and the truths we refuse to tell ourselves.”
Grant argued that the referendum became a symbolic battleground over national identity. To him, the rejection reflected a resistance to acknowledging Indigenous trauma, land dispossession, and systemic disadvantage. Many Australians, he suggests, saw the Voice as a confrontation—not a conversation.
Taking Aim at the ABC
Grant didn’t stop there. He also pointed fingers at the ABC, criticising how the public broadcaster handled his presence and voice during the Voice debate. After facing relentless racial abuse online—much of it sparked by his on-air commentary—Grant stepped away from his role at the ABC in 2023. At the time, he cited a lack of institutional support.
Now, he’s naming it plainly: “The ABC abandoned me.” He claims the network failed not only to support him personally but to uphold its duty to protect and amplify Indigenous voices during a crucial national moment.
What This Means Moving Forward
Grant’s critique isn’t just about his personal experience—it’s a broader challenge to the media, the public, and institutions that claim to support reconciliation. His call is clear: Australia can’t move forward without truth, and truth requires courage—especially from those in power.
As the country continues to wrestle with the fallout of the Voice referendum, Grant’s message lands with weight. He’s not asking for sympathy; he’s demanding honesty. And that’s what makes this moment, and his voice, impossible to ignore.
