The kind of Australians who vote yes to the Voice to Parliament – and rally to the no side
The kind of Australians who vote yes to the Voice to Parliament – and rally to the no side
A new poll has uncovered what types of Australians vote yes and no to the Indigenous vote in parliament – with data showing the two camps are split based on education, home ownership and income.
A Newspoll published in the Australian newspaper on Monday showed that the ‘Yes’ camp has failed to win an absolute majority in any state or territory – while it takes both a majority of the states and a majority of the Australians win.
Mr Albanese brushed aside suggestions that the ‘yes’ vote in the referendum would be in trouble, saying there was still a long way to go before Australians cast their ballots.
“We have a series of (no) campaigns designed to really confuse the community,” he told ABC Radio.
“There is nothing to fear from this trial and everything to gain.”
Demographic analysis revealed that a strong divide is emerging between Australians.
It found that those most likely to support the Indigenous advisory body were higher-income, college-educated, renters and youth.
Those opposed to the Voice included voters with no tertiary education, retirees, mortgage holders, and people who owned their homes outright.
While the race was still close, a referendum based on current views would not meet the threshold for success.
Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the poll reflected people’s desire for more information on the vote.
“There are many more Indigenous Australians who don’t feel they are represented by the Uluru Statement from the Heart,” she said.
But former Nationals MP Andrew Gee, who left the party over his opposition to the vote, said large swaths of voters were alienated by the coalition’s position.
“I think the Voice will succeed, I think we’ll get it over the line, but if it doesn’t, there’s going to be a real void about what happened,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed suggestions that the ‘yes’ vote in the referendum was in trouble, saying there was still a long way to go before Australians cast their ballots
Opposition politician Jacinta Nampijinpa Price claims the poll reflects Australians’ desire for more information on the vote
“I think it’s a very short-sighted attitude (for the coalition) to take and I think in the longer term, when the history books are written, history will judge them very badly for it.”
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said she felt an impulse in favor of the vote that was not reflected in the polls.
“Every day, someone of significance comes out to support the ‘yes’ campaign…everywhere I go, I feel that momentum,” she said.
Ms Burney said the opposition was trying to muddy the waters with questions about things the vote wouldn’t cover.
She said the debate was taking its toll on Indigenous Australians, especially young people.
“(The vote) will make a practical difference in Aboriginal life…that’s why it’s worth going ahead with this referendum,” she said.
“I’ve been involved in Aboriginal politics for 44 years and I’ve seen a lot of things and I can tell you that this opportunity for constitutional reform is our shot in the closet that’s going to make a difference.”
The referendum will be held in the last quarter of the year and the prime minister will announce the date in the coming weeks.