AFL legend Michael Long has declared it high time for Australia to embrace Aboriginal people as he embarks on a walk to Canberra in support of an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Recreating his Long Walk in 2004, the football great and son of two stolen generation members will trek hundreds of kilometres in the lead-up to the referendum.
Long, who played in two premierships and won a Norm Smith medal across 190 games for Essendon, began his 19-day journey from Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday morning.
Flanked by his former Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy and ‘yes’ campaigners, Long said the voice was a hand up for Indigenous people rather than a handout, amid an increasingly divisive public debate.
“The hatred’s got to stop,” Long told reporters.
“We’re old enough to have those discussions as people (without the) negativity.
“We’re better than that as Australians and I’ve seen that happen with football over time.”
Nearly 20 years ago, Long set off for the nation’s capital to speak with then prime minister John Howard after the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and after attending another Aboriginal funeral.
After Long completed 325km of the planned 650km journey in about nine days, Mr Howard called for an end to the walk and agreed to meet.
On Sunday, Long urged Australians to vote ‘yes’ to improve outcomes for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders as some Closing the Gap indicators worsen.
“The gap has widened, we need to change the norm of what we’ve been doing,” he said.
“Good intentions doesn’t always work. That’s why you need to embrace.”
Long is encouraging all Australians to walk with him along the way, whether it is for an hour, a day, or the whole way.
He will also stop to discuss the referendum in regional towns including Broadford, Nagambie, Shepparton, Benalla, Beechworth, Albury, Gerogery, The Rock, Wagga Wagga, Gundagai, Jugiong and Yass.
The route stretches almost 800km, with Long scheduled to arrive at Parliament House in Canberra on September 14.
Before the walk, Premier Daniel Andrews joined Long to announce a $250,000 donation from Victorian taxpayers to his foundation.
“There is a sense of sadness that you have to do this walk again but also a sense of pride that Aboriginal people are making their case and so many others are supporting them,” Mr Andrews said.
Federal Government Services Minister Bill Shorten, who took part in the original Long Walk, denied the referendum was giving special advantages to Indigenous Australians.
“This referendum is the opportunity to extinguish the lie that this country is not built on Aboriginal foundations,” Mr Shorten said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reveal the date of the referendum in Adelaide on Wednesday, with October 14 widely expected to be the day.
