Ally Langdon’s A Current Affair interview with Anthony Albanese divides viewers

Ally Langdon has sparked mixed reactions after she silenced Anthony Albanese in a fiery interview on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Prime Minister was pleading for Australians to vote ‘Yes’ when the TV presenter pointed out a glaring issue in his referendum campaign: ‘People don’t get it.’

Mr Albanese said a pamphlet explaining how the proposed advisory body would work will soon be distributed to every Australian.

Langdon replied, “I’m not sure if this is all simple and straightforward for humans.”

Mr Albanese replied: ‘Well I think it’s quite simple as it’s an idea that comes from Indigenous Australians themselves.’

Langdon replied, “Saying it’s plain and simple doesn’t just make it so.” People don’t get it, and that’s a fact.’

Mr Albanese also said he was ‘asking Australians to trust themselves and their own judgment’.

“But their verdict is, ‘We don’t understand this,'” Langdon replied. “We don’t know what it is.” It’s bland.

“There is a voice, but I don’t know if it has no real power. It has no real legs. It can change over time and maybe look different in ten years from what it is now, and that scares people.

“I mean, my parents don’t understand. They’ve watched it, their group of friends who’ve watched it and don’t understand it, that’s a huge problem.’

The interview sparked a fiery debate among viewers, with many accusing Langdon of being uneducated about The Voice.

“Truly offended by Ally Langdon’s utter ignorance of the Voice referendum and reducing herself to a mere mouthpiece for the disinformation of the No vote,” one man said angrily.

“Albo was patient and clear. It was not a balanced interview. Not good enough, a topical matter.’

A second said: “It bothers me that Alison Langdon still doesn’t understand the details of The Voice.

‘I have no problem if someone votes no, if you feel that way, fine, it’s a free country.

“What I can’t fathom is that people still don’t understand what it means, especially if you’re Alison Langdon.”

But others thought Langdon’s tough questions were reasonable and thanked her for asking them.

“If the polls are right and we’re leaning toward a no vote, it’s perfectly reasonable for Ally Langdon to ask the questions she asked from a no point of view,” said one woman.

“He had a chance last night to change the No-voter’s mind, but even Albo doesn’t really know why he’s doing it.”

Another viewer added, “Experienced reporters ask probing questions. Poor reporters ask permissive questions. Ally has shown the world what an experienced reporter is capable of.”

“Mr. Albanese got all worked up and turned out to be the fool he is by being a TV presenter, not even a hard-nosed journalist.

“Well done Ally, you’ve asked a lot of questions and still got the same answers we’ve been hearing for eighteen months now.”

A third said, “Langdon’s performance was absolutely exemplary, and the further Albo tried to doubt, the less she stood for it. It has earned me a lot of respect.’

A fourth stated, “Albo answered all of her questions with a mindless limp waffle that doesn’t explain how The Voice will help or why we can’t listen without it.”

Channel Nine bosses quickly jumped to Langdon’s defense.

“Ally has done an excellent and professional job of asking the questions that the majority of Australians have long wanted answered.” Darren Wick, Nine’s director of news and current affairs, told the media.

During the interview with Langdon, Mr Albanese said the referendum was about ‘faith, hope and love, and indeed about bringing Australia together. It’s positive’.

It’s just an advisory group. It’s no more complicated than being an advisory group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues.’

He added that it was “aimed at closing the gap in healthcare, education and housing.”

‘This is a proposal that comes from the people; it comes from the Aborigines and the Torres Strait Islanders themselves,” the Prime Minister said.

“This won’t have any direct impact on most Australians, but it could make life better for the three per cent of Australians who happen to be the most disadvantaged group: the First Nations population.

“I think it will be a time when we can show respect to them; where we can feel better about ourselves and about a nation and where the world can look at us and say ‘Australia is a grown, grown nation’.’

He added that the Voice for Australia was an opportunity to close the gap for Indigenous people.

“(The Voice) is focused on closing the gap in health care, education and housing,” Albanese said.

“We currently know that there is still an eight-year life expectancy gap.

“If you are a young Indigenous man, you are more likely to go to prison than to university.

“If you’re a young Indigenous woman, you’re more likely to die in childbirth than if you’re a non-Indigenous woman.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Albanese announced that the referendum would take place on October 14.

In an emotional speech, Albanese urged Australians not to close the door on the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians, saying that a no vote would ‘go nowhere’.

“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.