Voice campaigner Thomas Mayo reveals racism hell to Stan Grant - as he opens up about a treaty after the vote in townhall meeting

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Stan Grant has addressed the racism levelled against him which sparked his decision to retreat from the public eye - empathising with an embattled Indigenous Voice to Parliament architect who claimed there's been an 'uptick' in racially-motivated abuse.

More than 1,000 Sydneysiders turned out to hear pitches from a star studded line up of Voice campaigners including Thomas Mayo, Noel Pearson and Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney.

Grant moderated the CityTalks discussion in Sydney's CBD, marking the first time he has fronted a public event since the Sydney Writers Festival in May, the same month he stepped away from the public eye back on the back of incessant 'racism' and a disenchantment with the media landscape.

He told the crowd he personally had noticed a significant increase in 'polarisation and division', lamenting living 'in an era of untruth, where even the truth is debated'.

Addressing Mayo directly, he said there was no doubt 'First Nations people have reported an increase in racism' amid the ongoing Voice debate.

Stan Grant (pictured) has addressed the racism levelled against him which sparked his decision to retreat from the public eye - empathising with an embattled Indigenous Voice to Parliament architect who claimed there's been an 'uptick' in racially-motivated abuse

'I have a personal view on this, and a personal experience with this,' he said. 

Grant revealed when he stepped down as host of ABC's Q+A indefinitely that racist attacks toward him had reached a fever pitch after his coverage of the King's coronation that he was receiving death threats.

Mayo revealed he'd also been subjected to racist trolling which had taken its toll on him.

'It's been a marked increase in racism. It has been really difficult,' he said:

'This is an attack on Aboriginal people in this country, we cannot let them stop us. That is what they're trying to do.

'Like myself, like Stan, don't let this stop us.'

In a significant about face on his historic comments, in which Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Mayo saw a Voice to Parliament as a direct path to treaty, the union delegate and Referendum Working Commission member explained his reasoning for seeking a Voice.

He said treaty making processes will take decades to negotiate 'due to their complexity' and that the priority should be in making practical changes to the community in ways that are already available.

'There are issues in our communities that are urgent, right now,' he said. 'If treaty is going to take decades, why would we wait?'

'We should be taking these issues to Canberra now.'

Mayo also appeared to provide an indication as to when the referendum will be held, telling the crowd they must 'urgently, systematically, reach out to anybody they could possibly influence'.

'Call someone tonight… do this respectfully, finish the conversation on a positive note and revisit in a few weeks,' he said.

'This is urgent. There is only about 13 weeks left,' he said, before hastily adding: 'if it (the referendum) is in mid-October.'

Thomas Mayo revealed he'd also been subjected to racist trolling which had taken its toll on him

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not yet confirmed when the referendum will take place, beyond confirming it will be in the last quarter of 2023.

It was revealed early this week the Yes campaign had spent a whopping $300,000 on advertisements for the Voice. Mr Mayo said t they 'need more money'.

He urged supporters to 'dig deep and help us with that'.

'We need you to donate, to contribute,' he said.

Both Mayo and Grant were treated with raucous applause at various stages of the night.

The crowd were particularly fond of Grant, who welcomed the sold out audience with a video from 2017, when the Uluru Statement from the Heart was forged.

The clip prominently featured Noel Pearson; who said it's the 'hope of our people that the voice will lead to the Makarrata Commission' - which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously said will make representations in favour of a treaty.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore was the first official speaker of the evening, describing the event as 'the official launch of our campaign to support the Voice'.

Meanwhile Minister Burney used her allocated time to lash the No campaign, saying: 'No campaign is more of the same, offering no solutions.'

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney delivers an address during a Voice To Parliament panel, in Sydney

She avoided using the word 'treaty', opting instead for 'agreement' when maintaining she hopes to see the Uluru Statement in full, which calls for Voice, Treaty and Truth.

The Minister reheated plenty of her statement to the National Press Club last week, acknowledging the four priority areas she mentioned at the time would not be the only concerns for an advisory body.

'Health, education, jobs and housing,' she said. 'Of course, there will be more.'

The first few rows of Centennial Hall were reserved for invited guests, and 10 minutes before the event was due to start ticket holders were already fighting for a smattering of individual seats.

When asked how they intended to Vote, the crowd shouted a deafening Yes. They laughed along with jokes made at the expense of the Opposition - at legal experts who questioned the scope of the Voice.

Grant, at one stage during the Q&A portion of the evening, quoted concerns about whether the Voice would be entitled to make representations to the Reserve Bank of Australia.

'If they could bring the rates down, that'd be nice,' he quipped. The crowd cheered along.

He said: 'This is a seminal moment for our country. You don't want to leave here uninformed, or misinformed.'

One of the most profound revelations of the night came from Professor Anne Twomey, who offered a thorough, in depth analysis of what might happen if the referendum is successful, but the advisory body which is borne out of that does not live up to expectations.

She reiterated what has been laid out as a primary concern from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the wider No campaign: once it is written into the Constitution, it is here to stay.

'The referendum guarantees the Voice exists, you can't take that away,' she said.

But, there will be a 'fire escape aspect' which could provide future governments a 'get out' clause to revamp the Voice 'if it is not functioning well, losing authority or not focusing on things that actually matter'.

This loophole is because the Constitution will only state that a Voice must exist and have the right to make representations to parliament.

But Professor Twomey said the government of the day can legislate 'how the Voice is comprised, the relationship to Parliament and to reconfigure things to get a better Voice if they realise it is not functioning right'.

'Parliament can regulate to make it more efficient to decide when and if MPs should take representations into consideration.'

These amendments can all be made so long as the primary function of the Voice - which is for it to exist and for it to speak to government - are not abolished.

But Professor Twomey also noted she does not expect there to be any issues with the scope of the Voice. Given committee members will be elected in their communities, she said it is in their best interests to ensure they're directly reflecting the wishes of everyday First Nations people.

'If Voice is focusing on parking tickets and subs, the community won't be too happy. They'll be turfed pretty quickly,' she said.

'The Voice also simply won't have the resources to be making submissions on irrelevant things. They will have to be focused.'

Noel Pearson spoke at the Voice To Parliament panel, in Sydney where 1000 people attended

In promotional material for the hotly anticipated event, Ms Moore said the City of Sydney has had its own 'Voice' to Council since 2008 - the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel. 

The panel is comprised of Indigenous organisations and leaders to provide advice for consideration when policies are formed.

Wednesday's panel was promoted as a 'chance to hear directly from community leaders, Voice experts, and constitutional specialists on what the Voice to Parliament will mean for our nation's future'.

The talk is just the latest in a whirlwind campaigning tour to promote the Voice. Thomas Mayo has attended events across Australia promoting his book explaining the referendum, while Ms Burney is visiting regional towns to garner support for the proposal.

She was invited to appear on Ben Fordham's breakfast program to debate Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, but declined.

She said: 'No, this is about Australians not politicians. It's always been about politics for the Liberals and Nationals. That's why they want a Canberra debate.

'We want an honest and open conversation with Australia about a path to a better future. They want typical political conflict and obstruction.'