Voice referendum date announced: Anthony Albanese to confirm when Australians will vote – with website glitch beating him to the punch

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s long-awaited announcement of the date for the Voice referendum was partially spoiled by a glitch on the official campaign website, which seemingly confirmed the date before taking the stage in Adelaide.

The first referendum in 24 years – to decide whether or not Australia should have a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament – ​​will take place on October 14.

After ending months of speculation, Albanese officially confirmed the date as the day when Australians across the country will head to polling booths.

“On that day, every Australian will have a unique opportunity to bring our country together… and change it for the better,” Mr Albanese told the audience.

On October 14, you will not be asked to vote for any political party or person. You’re being asked to say yes to an idea whose time has come,” he continued, almost tearfully.

The official Yes campaign website appeared to foreshadow the Prime Minister’s announcement, with events scheduled for October 14

The prime minister was greeted with a standing ovation and loud applause when he arrived in the packed room.

Supporters filled every inch of the venue, many holding banners and wearing Yes merchandise.

Mr. Albanese guaranteed that a Voice would save money in the long run by streamlining services and directing aid exactly where it is needed in the community.

During his speech, heads in the crowd nodded as South Australians murmured words of encouragement and support.

The Prime Minister assured the public that the question is “clear, unequivocal and clear” in a rousing, impassioned speech to officially launch the campaign.

“My fellow Australians, what Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders want for their children is what you want for yours,” Mr Albanese said.

“Staying healthy, doing well in school, finding a job they love, being safe and living a fulfilling life. That’s what they’re asking you to say yes to in this referendum. The same chance for their children to build a good life for themselves.”

“Let’s be very clear about the alternative. Voting no means going nowhere. It closes the door on this opportunity to move forward. Don’t close the door on constitutional recognition…don’t close the door on the next generation of Indigenous Australians. Vote yes.’

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull takes a selfie with Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, Federal Member of Wentworth Allegra Spender and Lucy Turnbull as they distribute Yes campaign materials for the Voice in Kings Cross, Sydney ahead of the date for the Vote in the parliament referendum

The question will be: ‘A Bill: To amend the Constitution to recognize Australia’s first peoples by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve of this proposed change?’

He was joined by prominent lawyer and advocate Noel Pearson, Yes23 campaign head Dean Parkin, Penny Wong, Linda Burney and South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas.

But there is an official campaign launch nationwide, with Tanya Plibersek and Malcolm Turnbull taking the lead in Sydney, the Greens’ Bill Shorten and Adam Bandt in Melbourne and Liberal MP Bridget Archer in Tasmania.

Despite her party’s opposition to the Voice, Ms. Archer is steadfast in her support for the proposal.

And in Canberra, Prime Minister Andrew Barr hands out flyers with the independent David Pocock.

Minister Linda Burney said: ‘With three letters, every Australian has the power to make the greatest country in the world even better.

“By voting Yes to listening, and Yes to better results, Australia has nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

For a referendum to succeed, it must receive a majority of the votes in a majority of states.

Only eight of the 44 referenda in Australia’s 122-year history have been successful – all with bipartisan support.

If a majority of Australians vote in favor of the Voice, the Constitution would be amended as follows:

1. There will be a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Commonwealth Parliament and Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

3. Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have the power to legislate on matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, powers and procedures.

It’s been an emotional day for supporters who heard the announcement, with hundreds of people arriving on buses at the Playford Civic Center in Elizabeth, Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Mother and daughter Khatija and Maia stood among the people queuing to pick up their passes to watch.

“It’s an exciting day for democracy,” Khatija told Daily Mail Australia.

“I am confident that South Australians will vote ‘yes’. It’s a day to celebrate.’

Khatija said it was particularly exciting that Mr Albanese had chosen Adelaide for the historic announcement.

“We wanted to be there,” she said.

Maia, wearing her school uniform, was less enthusiastic than her mother, but still cheerful.

“It’s a day off,” she said.

Proponents of the yes vote arrive in Adelaide for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement of the date of the referendum

Chancellor of the Exchequer Katy Gallagher appeared in Canberra on Wednesday morning to mobilize support for the Yes campaign

The model proposed by the government would have representatives from all states and territories, as well as from the Torres Strait and specific outlying areas.

Those who make up the Voice will be appointed by the communities, not the government, and will serve specific terms of office.

The Prime Minister has guaranteed that there will be gender balance and youth membership, a particular bone of contention for Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Senator Nampijinpa Price has repeatedly questioned how the government can guarantee self-appointments as well as gender and age quotas.

Mr Albanese says the body will be transparent and accountable, assuring the public that parliament will ultimately decide on the model.

The latest polls show the Voice slumping in every state, and according to the latest Newspoll polls, the ‘Yes’ vote is leading only in South Australia and NSW.

In Victoria, the vote is evenly split, while the ‘no’ vote is leading in WA, Queensland and Tasmania.

Both campaigns remain confident they can still win over voters across the board.

Insiders within the Yes campaign say internal polls show the majority of Australians remain indecisive or ‘soft’ in their positions.

Unveiling the referendum question on March 23, Mr Albanese said: ‘On May 21, I started my premiership with a statement on a referendum.

“I knew what I was doing, I knew what weight was there and I knew how that would be received by people. I also knew that I had my party completely behind me.

“I’m not here to occupy space, I’m here to change the country. Nowhere is it more important to change the country than to change the constitution to recognize the fullness of our history.

“I want this for all Australians. We’ll feel better about ourselves if we get this done. The truth is that Australia will be seen as a better country in the rest of the world. Our position in the world matters.’

Greens leader Adam Bandt (left) and NDIS minister Bill Shorten speak as they campaign ahead of the date announced for the Voice to Parliament referendum at Melbourne’s Newmarket railway station

When Mr Albanese and his entourage left the March press conference announcing the referendum issue, they were met with thunderous applause from the Labor caucus.