Video emerges of Marcia Langton saying ‘hard No voters spewing racism’ after she defended herself over controversial remarks

Professor Marcia Langton has been filmed saying “hard No voters” of the Voice to Parliament are “spewing racism”, after earlier defending her remarks at a more recent forum in Western Australia on the weekend.

Sky News Australia Political Editor Andrew Clennell revealed on Wednesday morning more footage had surfaced of the professor labelling those, she defined as “hard no” voters, as “racist”.

The clips shows the prominent Yes campaigner at a University of Queensland event just a few months ago in July making the remarks.

In one speech seen by Sky News Australia, Ms Langton describes all “hard no” voters as racist, saying they “are the ones spewing racism”.

“The surge of racist nonsense is confined to a minority of Australians,” she said.

“Ordinary Australians are thinking Yes. Of course I am voting for the Voice and that would be 48-49 per cent.

“Then there is hard No voters and I am hoping they are about 20 per cent and they are the ones spewing racism.”

Ms Langton also linked the “hard No” vote to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

“Both conservative leaders the Liberal Party Opposition leader Peter Dutton and the National Party leader David Littleproud have committed their parties to advocating a hard no case for the question,” she said in the video.

“Moreover their arguments are speciesist.

“Appealing to their racist base with claims that the proposal will racially divide the nation.”

In another instance Ms Langton took aim at “racist” social workers and police officers.

“Families have been broken apart by social workers who are, by and large, white and racist,” she said.

“We need a radical culture change to stop the the police from criminalising more and more people.

“Simply because the police are racist, because they get brownie points to rounding people up.”

It comes after Ms Langton defended herself in comments to Nine Newspapers following her remarks at a Western Australia forum.

Video of the event was first reported by local newspaper Bunbury Herald, with Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson obtaining the video.

The prominent Yes campaigner, and key Voice architect, sought to link the arguments outlined by the No side to “base racism”, while speaking in Bunbury.

“Every time the No cases raise their arguments, if you start pulling it apart you get down to base racism,” she told a forum on Sunday.

“I’m sorry to say that’s where it lands, or sheer stupidity.

“If you look at any reputable fact-checker, every one of them says the No case is substantially false. They are lying to you.”

However, Ms Langton later disputed any interpretation she had targeted voters themselves, claiming the comments were directed to the No campaign.

“I’m saying the claims being made by the No case are based in racism and stupidity – and appeal to racism and stupidity,” she told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“And they are appealing to Australians to frighten them into adopting highly racist and stupid beliefs.”

Earlier on Wednesday, two senior minister from Labor and the Coalition clashed on live television over the Voice and whether she was “racist” if she was voting No.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr raised Ms Langton’s remarks and questioned whether “more respect” had to be shown between both camps.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil argued the professor’s comments were taken out of context before she was interrupted by Liberal Senator Jane Hume.

“Claire, this is the Yes campaign calling anybody who votes No racist,” Senator Hume said.

Ms O’Neil attempted to move on about why it was important to vote Yes to a Voice when the frustrated Liberal Senator cut in with a question.

“Am I racist, Claire? Is that what you’re saying?” Senator Hume asked.

The Home Affairs Minister hit back: “Jane, that’s a disgraceful thing to say. You should be debating the referendum. That’s not true.”

Senator Hume flagged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to condemn Ms Langton’s remarks.

There are 31 days left of campaigning, before Australians head to the polls to decide if a First Nations Voice should be enshrined into the Constitution.

A survey by Resolve Strategic this week showed the Yes vote had dipped to 43 per cent from 46 per cent in August, marking the fifth consecutive month voters have lurched against the Voice proposal. 

According to the poll results, published by Nine’s the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday, the overall No vote has grown to 57 per cent from 54 per cent last month. 

According to the survey results, support for the Voice, an independent and permanent body that would advise the government on issues and policies that may impact First Nations Australians, also continued to drop in every state except Tasmania.