Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr’s hard message to Anthony Albanese’s government on The Voice’s ‘Yes’ campaign: ‘Failing so bad’

Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr’s hard message to Anthony Albanese’s government on The Voice’s ‘Yes’ campaign: ‘Failing so bad’

  • Recent Newspoll shows support for Voice is declining
  • Barr told Tanya Plibersek why the campaign ‘failed’

Natalie Barr has stated that ‘something is going wrong’ when it comes to campaigning for an Indigenous vote in parliament, with current polls suggesting more Australians are planning to vote no.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Veterans Affairs Minister Barnaby Joyce were engaged in a fiery discussion earlier this morning over their views on the Voice on Sunrise.

Barr noted that based on the latest numbers from a recent Newspoll, less than 50 percent of residents in each state plan to vote yes.

Joyce argued that Australians wanted to see the legislation on The Voice before voting, rather than after a referendum was held.

“That’s what people say they want to see before they vote on it,” Barr said.

“The Newspoll may be wrong, but in a state like Victoria it’s right, the votes are right, so something goes wrong in a Labor state like Victoria, isn’t it?”

The host of Sunrise had previously asked Ms Plibersek if she was ‘concerned’ about support for the vote slipping.

According to a recent Newspoll, the yes vote is 43 percent nationally and the no vote is 56 percent.

Ms Plibersek said she was “absolutely determined” to fight the “scare campaign” being pushed by the opposition to boost support for the advisory body.

Natalie Barr has stated that ‘something is going wrong’ when it comes to campaigning for an Indigenous vote in parliament, with current polls suggesting more Australians are planning to vote no

“This is about two very simple things, it’s about changing our constitution to recognize that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have been here for a long time and it’s also about setting up a committee that would give advice to parliament,” she said.

“We know there are gaps in life expectancy, health outcomes and education.

“What the No campaign says is that we should just keep doing what we’re doing, it should just be more of the same and of course I don’t agree with that.”

Barr then asked Mr Joyce why he thought the Yes campaign ‘failed so badly’ to which he said it was because it was a ‘matter of race’.

“It sets Australia apart by race, which I think is an abomination in 2023,” he said.

“No one has described to us that it’s going to make certain issues like health and education better, but they haven’t described exactly how it’s going to do that.

“Why can’t we do that now? Why do we need to go to the Constitution. It is exaggerated.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would fully implement the Uluru Declaration of the Heart, which discusses a treaty and financial settlement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke to Yolngu Elder Mr.  Djawa Yunupingu at the Garma Festival

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke to Yolngu Elder Mr. Djawa Yunupingu at the Garma Festival

The statement discussed “reparations for past crimes and compensation for current and future crimes.”

‘Is that the case? Because if you create a void, it will be filled with information, which is what the opposition is doing in this case. They say ‘we don’t have the information’, and they fill it in and they are the ones who win,” Barr asked Ms. Plibersek.

‘Will there be a financial settlement as part of a percentage of GDP, isn’t that something that is being discussed? And a treaty.’

Ms Plibersek dodged the question, saying the only thing to be determined was whether Australia should amend its constitution to recognize Indigenous Australians.

Barr then said, “People say they want to see it before they vote on it. And in a state like Victoria, which is Labor, it’s bound, in a Labor state like Victoria, so something goes wrong there.’

“We will continue to campaign,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon were seen at the Garma Festival last week

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon were seen at the Garma Festival last week