Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson makes a plea for a debate of ideas free of hate and for Yes voters to stick to their beliefs. Pic and video Rod Thompson
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00:00 Well, unfortunately we've seen vandalism of our yes signs, which you can see over there,
00:11 just as other Tasmanians have had their yes signs vandalised.
00:16 Referendums are an opportunity for free speech and expression and democracy to flourish.
00:23 We very rarely get them.
00:24 And of course it's very disappointing to see people taking the steps of vandalising people's
00:31 signs in a referendum.
00:34 Look, I think we need to call this bad behaviour out, and that's what it is.
00:41 And it reflects very badly on the no campaign, that there are some people out there that
00:46 are willing to go to these lengths to make a point in what should be a contest of ideas.
00:54 Unfortunately we've also seen a lot of other bad behaviour during this referendum, especially
00:59 from the no campaign.
01:02 And I think it should give people pause to reflect on who are the no campaign, who exactly
01:10 do they represent, and why would someone go to the lengths to vandalise signs and vandalise
01:15 my office, politicise what is simply giving our First Nations people constitutional recognition,
01:23 recognising them in our constitution, which is the least we can do after colonising their
01:30 country that they inhabited and thrived and lived here for 60,000 years.
01:35 I would ask them to keep putting signs up.
01:37 Don't let these people win.
01:38 This is exactly what they want to do.
01:41 As I've said, this doesn't look good for the no campaign.
01:43 We've seen all around the country the rise of fear and hatred and division around this
01:49 referendum.
01:52 Don't let them win.
01:53 Please, if you want to support the yes campaign, keep doing that.
01:57 It's really important that you are able to express your opinions in a referendum.
02:02 This is a democracy.
02:03 And don't let the bastards get you down.
02:07 Keep campaigning for what you believe in.
02:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]