Voice referendum: Yes campaign pours $400,000 into huge advert push for NRL finals as critics warn not to ‘push issue down the throats’ of footy fans

The finals will see a large number of advertisements in support of the Voice referendum, after the Yes camp poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into electronic billboard advertising.

Vote Yes has spent approximately $400,000 to secure the advertising, which will be shown on the ground at all NRL finals, including the grand final.

That figure is the market rate for electronic billboards in NRL finals games.

Both the AFL and NRL have expressed support for the referendum, although neither sport has any plans to promote the yes vote in their respective finals series.

The AFL will not attempt to omit references to the referendum during the Welcome to Country ceremonies before the game.

An NRL spokesperson said the ‘yes campaign has bought commercial advertising inventory from the NRL in the same way any advertiser could’.

However, the two codes have been warned by former Labor minister for sport Graham Richardson to keep the subject of the referendum out of the final altogether.

“I would keep the Voice well out of the final if I were the one to make the decision. I don’t like the idea of ​​mixing them up, that would be a pretty big mistake,” he said via News Corp.

“People go there to watch two teams go head-to-head,” he said.

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett concurred, adding, “I think there is a growing resentment in the public against those who try to tell individuals how to vote.

“I hope (the AFL) allows the hundreds of thousands of spectators to watch the game and enjoy the experience. They don’t go to football to have the social agenda pushed down their throats.’