Australia is poised to engage in its first referendum vote in over two decades, as the Prime Minister officially kickstarted the campaign for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament on Wednesday.
The referendum is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 14, marking a significant step toward reshaping the country’s governance.
Speaking before an enthusiastic crowd of 400 people on the outskirts of Adelaide, Anthony Albanese, the prominent voice behind the campaign, called upon voters to rally behind the cause outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and lend their support to the constitutional amendment.
“The idea for a Voice came from the people and it will be decided by the people,” he told a rapturous crowd.
“Now, my fellow Australians, you can vote for it.”
Highlighting the widespread backing within the community for the Indigenous Voice, Albanese emphasised the bipartisan commitment to the cause by both the federal and state governments.
“Our government along with every single state and territory government have committed to it,” he said.
“Faith groups and sporting codes and businesses and unions have embraced it. An army of volunteers are throwing all of their energy behind it.”
The event commenced with a poignant address by Uncle Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner AM, a highly regarded Ngarrindjeri Elder.
The choice of Elizabeth, an outer suburb of South Australia’s capital, as the rally’s venue, underscores the belief that the state could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the impending referendum.
This electoral process must overcome the historically challenging hurdle of a double majority for its passage: garnering over 50 percent of the total national votes and securing approval from at least four out of the six states (with the votes from the Territories contributing solely to the national tally).
As the Yes and No campaigns stake their claims, focusing on Victoria and New South Wales, and Queensland and Western Australia respectively, intense campaigning is expected to unfold in South Australia and Tasmania during the six-week lead-up to the referendum.
However, the path to victory for either side hinges on maintaining the competitive landscape across all states throughout the campaign.
Advocates for both the Yes and No campaigns sprang into action on Wednesday, articulating their positions on the Indigenous Voice issue.
“I am excited,” Senator Malarndirri McCarthy told the ABC.
“I think this is a significant step in our country if we can say yes.”
In contrast, the face of the No campaign, Nyunggai Warren Mundine, cautiously welcomed polls indicating robust opposition.
“I take them with a grain of salt,” he told RN Breakfast.
“We’ve virtually sewn up Queensland and Western Australia, and so all we need is one more state and that will defeat the Yes campaign.”
Another group opposing the Indigenous Voice initiative is the Blak Sovereign Movement. Fred Hooper, chairperson of the Murrawarri People’s Council and a movement member, challenged the frequently cited statistic of 80 percent support for the Voice within the First Nations community.
“I call it a Voice of no choice,” he told the ABC.
“We don’t have a choice on whether it gets up … and we don’t have a choice in the legislation if the Yes vote gets up.”
