Cape York leader and prominent Voice campaigner Noel Pearson has rejected calls from former Prime Minister John Howard to no campaigners to "maintain the rage," instead responding that the yes campaign will "maintain the love, there's no rage path for us."
Speaking on ABC Radio National, Pearson said the no campaign was trying to "divert the conversation into negativity" after leading no campaigner Warren Mundine claimed - without evidence - that the Prime Minister was responsible for unleashing "horrible racial abuse."
Pearson argued that a lot of the prejudices towards Aboriginal people was based "not (on) complete antipathy" but rather built on "uncertainty and fear," which the no campaign has been looking to exploit.
"The no campaign obviously…their intention is to exploit that. Exploit fear about Indigenous people and fear about reconciliation. Our message is one of optimism and faith and belief," he said.
"Our Yes campaign is based on love and faith, it can't be based on anything else."
Warren Mundine told The Financial Review that the yes camp was "delusional."
"Most of the racism and abuse is coming from the Yes side," he said.
"It's not only from the campaign, it's from central figures within the campaign. I get racially abused on social media by people supporting Yes, and this isn't something we've had before. It's a bit shocking."
Earlier this month, the no campaign sacked two volunteers for racial abuse, one of which was a "very anti-semitic comment."
The anti-voice campaign also features prominent former Labor MP Gary Johns, who has refused to apologise for saying "blood will have to be measured for all benefits and jobs" and colonialism was a "gift" to Aboriginal people.
Pledging to speak to the more the 30 per cent of voters who polls show are undecided, Mr Pearson rejected Mr Howard's comments on Sky News, where he urged people to "maintain the rage" after reports suggested the no side could fall victim to complacency and low voter turnout.
"I was surprised that any eminent leader of the country would urge rage. I only say in response to it that, well, the No campaign might be inciting rage, we're going to incite love and faith and the removal of fear, belief in Indigenous people," Pearson said.
"We were so buoyed (by the campaign launch launch) it was a moment we were waiting for, for so long. We now have 44 days in front of us to talk to Australians…30 to 40 per cent of them are coming across the issue for the first time."
"People will focus over the next six weeks as a result of the date now being announced."
He rejected calls from Mundine that the no campaign had "virtually sewn up Queensland and WA."
"I, and my colleagues, are going to leave no stone unturned," Pearson said.
He argued that once people heard what the proposal was, they accepted it "this is a profound but simple proposition."
Pearson said he had many good relations in the past with Howard, who originally promised constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians before the 2007 election. However, for the yes campaign, Pearson stated "there's no rage path for us."
"I urge Australians and our mob in the yes campaign to always keep our eyes on the prize. And the prize is we are building a better Australia," he said.
"It is never too late for reconciliation. It's never too late to put right what is wrong. This referendum will go a long way to putting things right."
