Michael Long to meet Albanese, Dutton ahead of Voice to parliament vote

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Nineteen years after he began his first Long Walk from Melbourne to Canberra, AFL legend Michael Long is returning to the capital with a message for all sides of politics: “The Voice will have a ripple effect of change.”

As the Senate prepares to pass laws on Monday morning that will enable the referendum to go ahead, Long will meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton about the proposed constitutional change.

Michael Long makes his way from Melbourne to Canberra in 2004.Credit: Joe Armao

While the Voice legislation passing is a formality, the success of the referendum is anything but.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney expressed confidence on Sunday that Australians would “rise to the occasion” and that the referendum would be a unifying moment.

“This is going to be hard, but now that we have almost finished the work in parliament, the campaign will kick in.”

In December 2004, Long’s walk was motivated by the Howard government’s decision to abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Michael Long (centre) crosses the Murray River on his way to meet John Howard in 2004.Credit: John Woudstra

The former Essendon champion felt the problems facing Indigenous Australians had slipped off the national agenda – so he set out on foot from Melbourne, hoping to meet then-prime minister John Howard.

In 2000, Long wrote an open letter castigating Howard, describing the “rippling effect” the stolen generations had on Indigenous Australians after a government submission claimed the policy only affected 10 per cent of Indigenous children.

The Long Walk has since transformed into an annual charity event in which people walk from Melbourne’s Birrarung Marr to the MCG before the Essendon-Richmond Dreamtime game.

As The Age’s Michael Gordon wrote after Howard had relented and met Long: “To dismiss the Long Walk as symbolic and even shallow is to underestimate Long’s frustration and grief, and to misunderstand his wider purpose: to ensure that the voices of elders like Pat Dodson are heard.”

Long says today: “That is why we walked – [to say] where is the love for Aboriginal people, the vision, the leadership when ATSIC was abolished.”

Before Australians vote on whether to create the Voice to parliament, Long will walk from Melbourne to Canberra, likely in late August, in the cause of his people.

He argues that if the referendum is passed “the Voice will have a ripple effect of change in education, health, sport”.

Before his meetings with the prime minister and opposition leader, Long said: “Peter Dutton has been on the walk to the MCG before, I have always found him personable and approachable to talk, when he came on the walk to Dreamtime. I know they [the opposition] have their opinion but if it does get up, hopefully both parties can work together.

“What I have learnt from footy, I have seen things transformed. I’ve seen sport change lives. One of the greatest advocates is [former Collingwood player] Damian Monkhorst, he has become a great advocate for change.”

Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy and Michael Long perform at half-time of the 2023 Dreamtime match at the MCG.Credit: Getty Images

Back in 1995 during the first Anzac Day game between Essendon and Collingwood, Monkhorst racially abused Long. An official complaint was made, followed by mediation and eventually the AFL introduced a groundbreaking racial anti-vilification policy.

“Damian, he changed the nation just as much as I did,” Long says.

Just as football has helped play a part in transforming the lives of Indigenous Australians, so too does the two-time premiership player believe the Voice can help change lives – and bring Australians together.

“We hope that people from both parties can walk with us. There is obviously people in the Liberal Party who support [the Voice]. We hope Liberals, we hope Australians who support it can join us,” he says.

In 2004, Long’s walk ended in Albury when, eight days into the 650-kilometre journey, Howard agreed to meet the former Bombers star.

Will the 53-year-old make the distance this time?

“As much of it as I can. I’m feeling the footy injuries, but the Voice is too important. We are big enough and old enough as a country to take the next step. This is about how we move forward as a country, leave this place better for our children and grandchildren.”

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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