Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett calls the Voice to Parliament referendum ‘one of the most important decisions we will all make in our lives’
Peter Garrett has shared his candid views on the Voice to Parliament referendum.
The Midnight Oil rocker and former politician appeared on The Project on Friday night and explained why he voted Yes.
“I think it’s one of the most important decisions we’ll all make in our lives,” the 70-year-old said.
‘It’s not so much about the politics of it, but about the national importance of it. Doing something good for a change,” he continued.
“Giving Indigenous Australians the opportunity to provide advice to Parliament. And it is only an advisory body. That’s all the Voice is.
Peter Garrett (left) has shared his candid views on the Voice to Parliament referendum. The Midnight Oil rocker and former politician appeared on The Project on Friday night and explained why he voted Yes
“I mean, there’s been a lot of white noise about it, but it’s just an advisory body. It was an idea that they put forward – a majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – leaders, people in communities.
“And what we have done so far as a country has not yet been successful when it comes to closing the gap,” Peter added.
“I will vote Yes and encourage fellow Australians to vote Yes too. I think we have an opportunity to do something positive.
“It’s modest, but it should be a step forward.”
Garrett spent nine years in parliament between 2004 and 2013 as Kingsford Smith’s minister and as Labor frontbencher.
The musician was Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts between 2007 and 2010 under then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
“I think it’s one of the most important decisions we’ll all make in our lives,” the 70-year-old said
After being re-elected in 2010, he served as Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth under Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Garrett did not contest the 2013 election but instead retired from politics.
He is also known as the frontman of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, of which he has been a member since 1972.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly said the Voice will be an advisory body to Parliament that will allow First Nations people to be involved in a discussion about the laws that affect them and what is needed in their communities.
Despite declining support in the polls, the campaign is still confident it can achieve a victory, relying on ‘soft’ No voters and Australians who have not yet entered the debate at all.
For the referendum to be successful, a majority of Australians must vote ‘Yes’ in most states.
Support for the Yes cause has fallen from over 60 percent to 40 percent or even below, partly due to comments from those behind the Voice to Parliament and the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
The Resolve Political Monitor’s latest survey found that 43 percent of voters supported a plan to enshrine the Vote in the Constitution, a decline of 20 percentage points from a year ago.
‘It’s not so much about the politics of it, but about the national importance of it. Doing something good for a change,” he continued