A widely shared assumption is that truth-telling about colonial violence can facilitate reconciliation between settlers and Indigenous peoples. This paper addresses the psychological disposition of the settlers of Australia as it was manifested in recent public contestations, including in the lead-up to the Voice referendum of October 2023, when the proposal of amending the Australian Constitution and establishing an Indigenous body capable of making representations to parliament was rejected. The paper focuses on foreclosure and disavowal as specific defensive mechanisms displayed by Australian settler publics, the former prompted by fear, the latter leading to paralysing loathing.