BRISBANE elder Uncle Joe Kirk has told The Catholic Leader he believes the Voice to parliament referendum vote will be close, but without a Yes vote Australia will not be moving towards reconciliation.
“Not all Australians agree with the wording of the referendum and most haven’t seen it,” the 78-year-old elder said.
“If you ask them what’s in the wording of the referendum – they don’t know.”
Mr Kirk grew up on the Cherbourg Aboriginal settlement after his forebears were forced off their traditional lands and under a punitive state government policy made to live there.
“There’s a lot of average Australians not interested in the referendum and they won’t vote Yes.”
Pamphlets released today lay out the Yes and No cases for the Voice to parliament referendum.
The publication of each side’s official arguments can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
A pamphlet outlining the two cases will be delivered to all Australian households.
The Yes case argues the Voice is about recognition, listening and better results for Indigenous Australians.
“It’s a change only you can make happen,” the pamphlet tells voters.
But the No side says the proposal is legally risky, divisive and has unknown consequences.
The latest Newspoll shows support for the Voice slipping five points since May with just 41 per cent of voters saying they’ll vote Yes and 48 per cent intending to say No.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believes the pamphlets will help turn things around, arguing most Australians won’t start paying attention until closer to the date of the referendum, widely expected in October.
However, Opposition Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Jacinta Price and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor urged people to vote No.
“This is a permanent change to our rulebook, the Constitution,” Mr Taylor said.
“It’s a proposal that’s very uncertain.”
Mr Kirk told The Catholic Leader during a visit to Cherbourg, that he believes the referendum was important to First Nations people and was important for reconciliation.
“We just want truth telling and we want people to listen to our stories. Let’s walk together. Let’s vote Yes so we can all be Australians,” he said.
“We’ll never be one people if people don’t vote Yes at the referendum.”
