In April, Pat Farmer set off on a run across Australia to support the indigenous population. On Saturday, a referendum will decide on more political say for indigenous people.
The Australian Pat Farmer ran every day – for exactly five months and 24 days. His journey across the continent ended on Wednesday – exactly four days before Australian citizens are due to vote in a referendum on whether the indigenous population’s right to have a say in political issues should be strengthened.
That’s exactly why Pat Farmer took up his career: to stand up for the rights of indigenous peoples and to draw attention to the ongoing disadvantage of First Nations. That’s why his journey ended symbolically in front of Uluru – the Australian landmark, also known as Ayers Rock. In 2017, 250 indigenous representatives met here and with one joint declaration launched the initiative for the upcoming referendum.
Indigenous people still do not play a role in the constitution
The referendum is about amending the constitution to allow for the formation of a body of Indigenous Australians. Provided a majority votes for the initiative, this will in future advise the Australian government on issues that also affect the indigenous population groups – for example when it comes to education, housing policy or the health sector. However, the committee’s suggestions would not be legally binding.
So far, the rights of the indigenous population have not played a role in Australia’s constitution, which was written in the 19th century. The referendum called “Voice to Parliament” is intended to change that. But according to current surveys, opponents of the planned constitutional change predominate shortly before the vote.
About 3.8 percent of the Australian population is indigenous. They are still disadvantaged in many areas of society today. They have worse job prospects, die earlier and are in prison more often.
Delegates from Australia’s Central Land Council have gathered near Uluru to call for a “yes” vote in the referendum.
Run through every state
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made it one of his election promises to support the referendum before his victory in the general election in May 2022. And so he personally greeted Pat Farmer when he arrived at Uluru. The head of government emphasized that he had “extreme admiration and awe” for the 61-year-old’s commitment.
In his first reaction, Farmer himself was simply “very, very happy” to have achieved his goal. He took off from Hobart, Tasmania, on April 17th. During its run of around 14,400 kilometers, it crossed all Australian states and territories.
Farmer himself served as a member of the Australian Parliament for eight years. It is not the first time that the ultramarathon runner has supported a political issue through sport. Among other things, he was involved in initiatives that fight cancer or diabetes and also in the Nanhi Kali project, which aims to strengthen educational opportunities for girls in India.