The Voice: American influencer Ryan Was talks about the upcoming referendum in Australia

A self-confessed ‘stupid American’ has spoken out about Australia’s upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum, comparing the proposed indigenous advisory body to ‘lobbyists’.

Ryan Was, who has 54,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel where he “reacts and comments on Australian affairs”, filmed his real-time reaction to a 9News explainer for the October 14 poll, hosted by political correspondent Fiona Willan.

But it doesn’t take long for Mr. Was to make bewildered faces.

“As a dumb American, I’m still a little confused,” he admits.

‘Everyone talks quite vaguely. What does it mean? What does it mean? ‘Australia’s first peoples’ – that is the Aboriginal people – ‘by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice’. What is the voice?’

Willan explains that, if confirmed, the Voice would install an independent advisory body that would make representations to Parliament on issues affecting Indigenous Australians.

‘Here in America they are called lobbyists and they are paid by big companies. As far as I know, we are not allowed to vote on who does that,” Mr Was said.

But as the concept is further explained, he claims that the Voice “seems harmless.”

“That’s why I’m surprised this is controversial,” Mr Was said.

‘They have no actual voting rights. They are there to advise, just like lobbyists.

“They are there to fight for the Aboriginal people.”

The explainer shows clips of the main figureheads of the Yes23 campaign, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, advocating for the Voice.

“Why does this actually need to be voted on?” asks Mr Was.

Although he admits at one point that he is ‘talking out of his ass’, Mr Was believes that the Voice will pass.

“I’m going to call it right now. This continues. That’s my instinct.’

Mr Was says the Voice ‘seems harmless’ and predicts it will pass

Australians could wait up to 13 days to find out if the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament has proven successful at the polls

The latest polls show Was would be wise not to put his money where his mouth is as the No campaign appears to be moving forward.

Australia has not had a successful referendum for almost fifty years. Australia last held a referendum in 1999, when it rejected the possibility of becoming a republic.

Mr Was eventually admits that he has no role in the game.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you what to do,” he says.

‘I’m not even Australian. But in advance I would say yes. Why not? Try it. Give them the commission.”

It comes at a time when The Voice has captured the attention of the world’s media ahead of the October 14 elections.

The New York Times said this had the potential to be ‘Australia’s Brexit moment’, while The Economist boldly stated that ‘Australians appear ready to reject new provisions for Aboriginal people’.