Anthony Albanese has hit back at claims that leading members of his own party have expressed concerns over the failure of the Voice referendum in Western Australia.
While Secretary of State Penny Wong and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus spoke at pro-Voice events in Perth this weekend, the Prime Minister will support a yes vote in a speech there Tuesday morning.
Opinion polls show The Voice is on track to be defeated, while senior members of the Western Australian Labor Party have expressed concern over the failure of the referendum in their state. The Western Australia reported.
Mr Albanese has rejected the allegations, insisting that no one in WA Labor has directly raised his concerns with him.
“Nobody says that to me,” he said. “People are positive, people are campaigning and people have formed groups.
Anthony Albanese (pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon) calls for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum on an indigenous vote to parliament against Washington amid criticism within the local Labor party that it will be defeated
Anthony Albanese has hit back at claims leading members of his own party have expressed concern over the failure of the Voice referendum in Western Australia
Mr Albanese said those campaigning for a yes vote, including the 2,400 volunteers who took the message directly to 20,000 homes, remain positive.
“The Labor Party, the teals and also the Liberals are reporting the same thing… really positive feedback and big rallies,” he said.
“The feedback from people who have knocked on the door in Washington and everywhere else, I think, shows the support that is there when people focus on what the question is.”
After months of speculation, the date for the referendum will be officially announced on Wednesday when the Prime Minister visits Adelaide following his departure from WA.
It is widely expected to take place on Saturday 14 October, giving the government and the Yes campaign just over six weeks to reverse the months-declining poll numbers.
In a recent poll, Victoria was the only state to support a yes vote. For the referendum to succeed, it must receive a majority of the national vote and also win at least four of the six states.
Nationally, the No side leads with 47 percent, the Yes side with 43 percent, while 10 percent of people are still undecided.
Mr Albanese said once the date is announced people will take a closer look at the issue of the referendum and what it will mean for Indigenous Australians.
He believes people will then see that it is “a very clear proposition” to recognize that Australia had a rich history long before white settlement.
But as a clear sign that the prime minister is listening to voters who say the Voice is not their main concern in tough economic times, he stressed that the government is helping with cheaper medicines and childcare and an increase in wealth.
On Friday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the slump in China’s economy paints a worrying picture.
“Many economists around the world are currently concerned about China’s economy, and … I share that concern,” he told ABC Radio.
“What we’re seeing… is a very different combination of challenges compared to most of the rest of the world.”
Mr Chalmers said he is watching such developments closely ‘because in our economy… the two things that are likely to matter most to that trajectory are developments in China, but also the impact of these (interest rates) interest rate increases that are in the system. ‘
Secretary of State Penny Wong (pictured) is also speaking at a pro-Voice event in Perth this weekend
But Albanese said the changes to ease cost-of-living pressures are paying off.
‘The fact that we can bring inflation down with an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent shows that we have a resilient economy.
“Our job is to get ready for the medium term,” he said.
Incoming Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock will shed more light on the state of the economy when she gives a speech in Canberra on Tuesday.