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PM challenges Voice poll, says ‘yes’ case still strong

PM Anthony Albanese says enshrining an Indigenous voice would not have any downside for Australians. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

By Kaaren Morrissey in Canberra

PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed polling showing support for the indigenous Voice to parliament appears to be ebbing, saying the surveys are continually fluctuating.

Backing for the “yes” vote has fallen to 46 per cent, from 51 per cent in February, a JWS Research poll published on Friday found.

The “no” vote has risen to 43 per cent, from 36 per cent four months ago, with about 11 per cent of voters undecided.

JWS noted a “significant” increase in the “no” vote among voters aged 35 years or over and in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

“There’s a different poll every day,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

“Every poll, including the one that was mentioned today, of course, has the ‘yes’ vote higher than the ‘no’ vote.

“Australians will make up their own mind and I encourage Australians to have a look at the wording that’s put forward, and to talk with First Nations people as well.”

Earlier this week, representatives of NT land councils travelled to Canberra to deliver the Barunga Declaration to Mr Albanese and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney.

The declaration calls “for the recognition of our peoples in our still young constitution by enshrining our voice to the parliament and executive government, never to be rendered silent with the stroke of a pen again”.

Members of the Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa land councils signed the declaration at the Barunga Festival in early June.

It invites all Australians to “right the wrongs of the past and deal with the serious issues impacting First Nations peoples… and unite our country” by supporting a “yes” vote in the referendum later this year.

“I was humbled to meet in my office with these wonderful indigenous leaders who came from the NT,” Mr Albanese said.

The prime minister said enshrining the voice would be a positive change and would not have any downside.

“This is all upside and I sincerely hope that Australians do vote Yes.”

Uluru Dialogue co-chair Megan Davis told AAP the Voice will change lives.

“It is a modest reform that will help change the daily lives of Aboriginal and Islander Peoples and acknowledge our place as the First Nations of this country,” she said on Friday.

“We have faith in Australians and now is the right time to let them decide.”

But the federal coalition maintains Australians are not ready to vote for the Voice as proposed, because there are unanswered questions about how the Voice advisory body will work.

“This is bad policy. It is a bad proposal,” Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley told a NSW Liberal party conference in Sydney on Saturday.

“It will not deliver better outcomes for indigenous Australians but it will deliver worse outcomes for all Australians.”

Ms Ley claimed the outcome would be a group of appointed national Voice leaders “residing at the top of our system of government with an unlimited, untested ability to interact not just with elected representatives but across the full spectrum of executive government and with supreme authority gifted by the constitution”.

The referendum is due to be held in the final quarter of this year, perhaps as soon as October.

 

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One Response to PM challenges Voice poll, says ‘yes’ case still strong

David says: 26 June 2023 at 9:16 am

If the Voice has achieve anything its a remarkable change in politics. Labor now acts like a right wing party while the LNP act like a reasoned voice from the left. Everything is being based on half truths. Ask a question which is too hard to answer and the questioner is personally attacked. If someone votes No it does not mean they are racist and they do not want to help those who need help. They may just not agree with the currently vague model being put forward. They may have some good ideas but are simply not allowed to, or be to wary of childish name calling, to enter the debate. This is hurting those who this whole thing is supposed to be helping. Many currently consider Australia to have too many levels of government and we’re being asked to enshrine in the Constitution another political body where we already know those who may be part of that body are already at loggerheads. If we know anything, this new political body is unlikely to make any difference to those it is supposed to be helping. Where is the safe guard for the body to be dissolved if it becomes dysfunctional? Furthermore, if The Voice achieves what we are told is the aim, closing the gap and achieving equality, then once that is achieved we no longer need the Voice. So why is it being placed in the constitution? If it isn’t about achieving equality then they should be honest and let people know they want a racist country and have it enshrined in the constitution. Simple definition of equality, they want what we’ve got and we want they’ve got and neither side can survive without having what the other side has so you agree to share and stop claiming ownership over our individual parts. Neither side is looking for a scenario where they have nothing from the other side and both sides have benefitted greatly from what they have from the other side, even if they to dishonest to publicly state it. This might seem controversial but it is what is being discussed in the pubs, clubs and BBQs. The public debate no longer reflects the private debate and people vote in private. If the Yes campaign wants to turn things around they need to let all questions be openly asked then provide good answers. They are asking people to trust them and the best way to get people to trust you is to let them ask any question, without reprisal, and then answer the question. Happy to vote Yes if I am confident it is going to help those who need to help.

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