In reflecting on the weeks leading up to the recent Voice Referendum here in Australia, and the way the majority of Australians voted, I have been struck by how much privilege was on display.

When we hear the word privilege, we often add the word ‘white’ in front of it - white privilege. This concept is one that I have come to recognise and understand in the last decade but which I could not see for the first nearly six decades of my life because my privilege was invisible to me. That's the problem with privilege, it is invisible to those who have it but it glaringly obvious to those who do not.

So let me unpack some examples of privilege I observed during the Referendum process – and it doesn’t only involve those whose skin is the same colour as mine.

“I don't know enough about it so…”

The privilege of ignorance where because my ignorance will not impact me I can just vote to suit myself.

“It doesn't concern me directly.”

The privilege to vote as we please on things that don’t concern us rather than thinking enough of others to vote in their best regard.

“I'm more concerned about cost of living.”

The cost-of-living crisis in Australia is real but this is magnified by the ongoing impacts of colonisation on indigenous peoples. Saying ‘no’ to people who are impacted not only by the things that impact us but also by issues that we do not experience is real privilege – regardless of our skin colour.
 
“I don't trust the politicians.”

While there may be good reason to not trust politicians. However, using this as a reason to vote against something that would be of assistance to marginalized people in our country shows the privilege of choosing our dislike or distrust of a particular politician or a particular political party over and above the welfare and the lived experience of other human beings in our own country.
 

“I'm afraid I'll lose access to land and beaches.”

Given the loss of land, language and heritage visited upon indigenous people since colonisation this displays the privilege that whiteness affords.
 

“I don't get special privileges since coming to Australia so why should they.”

The privilege of judging the experiences of others solely through the lens of our own lives.
 

“Look at what’s happening in Aboriginal communities. Let’s fix those things first.”

The privilege of looking only at the surface level rather than seeking the deeper generational causes that those of us who are not indigenous do not experience. This is the privilege of making judgements about people without acknowledging the part our history has played in their current circumstances.
 

“It’s done. Now we can get on with life.”

The privilege to choose not to think about the consequences of the Voice defeat.
 
 

I have privilege purely because of the colour of my skin. I can't change that.

But I can choose how I use my privilege – to aid those who do not share the same privileges I do.