One of the largest groups of political activists, the Australian Christian Lobby, was silent as Australia decided on the Voice. A steady stream of announcements flowed out of ACL during the campaign, but the voice did not find a place on the agenda.
Here is a list of the ACL media releases in the month leading up to the vote: they raise worthwhile issues but nothing on First Nations representation
• Prostitution law reform
• Hamas attack on Israel
• Palliative care funding slashed in NSW (twice)
• Thanking Cherish Life for campaigning on babies born alive after abortion
• Channel 7 Spotlight program on transgender
• UK bans males in female hospital wards
• Sex trafficking temporary workers
• Decriminalising prostitution feeds human trafficking
• UK backtracking on conversion therapy laws
• Jacinta Allan, new Vic premier
• Euthanasia
• Dan Andrews departs
• WA Abortion Bill passes
• WA and sex-selection abortions
• Sophie’s law in Qld
In a similar manner, the Action campaigns listed on the ACL site reflect these topics, not the voice.
Previous leaders of ACL, Martyn Iles and Lyle Shelton, have strongly supported the “no” campaign.
Iles’ contribution to the Voice debate came in 2022 while Managing Director of the ACL. “Race must not divide us,” his opening words in a “Truth of It” video foreshadowed a major theme of the “no” case that developed in the last few months.
Lyle Shelton wrote an ebook, “Seven Reasons to Vote No” for a group called “Christians for Equality” part of the umbrella group Advance Australia that led the “No” campaign.
Martyn Iles clearly wanted to oppose the Voice. The ACL has subsequently decided not to campaign on the issue. At least nothing that the Other Cheek could find. Certainly nothing of note.
Iles was successful in enlarging the support base for the ACl. The Other Cheek is aware that his refusal to engage in normal political campaigning was one reason for the ACL Board questioning his strategy.
It may be that Iles building up the ACL as an alternate channel for Christian representation by passing church leaders was another issue. A campaign against the Voice may have exacerbated the problem, with many otherwise conservative church leaders supporting a Yes vote.
This would have come in the wake of the Covid debates which divided the ACL support base.
The reasons for the ACL silence on the Voice may not be clear, but the striking absence of the ACL from the debate is a remarkable, under-reported aspect of the last few weeks.