Aboriginal Elder Pleads for Support Amidst Dwindling Yes Campaign Votes

In an impassioned plea for the imminent Voice to Parliament referendum, Aboriginal elder Aunty Violet expressed concern that a No vote might regress the progress of indigenous people by 65,000 years. Despite dwindling support for the Yes campaign, which has decreased from 60 per cent in February to a mere 34 per cent now as per the most recent Newspoll survey, the advocates remain undeterred.

This stoic stance is strongly patronised by the Prime Minister himself, who hopes for Australian voters to defy the frequently misleading poll predictions and endorse the change. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced his resentment for the cocksure No campaign, whom he condemned for taking Australians and outcome for granted. Furthermore, he criticised poll procedures for their exclusion of voters’ opinions.

Standing in front of Parliament House, Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet confessed her bafflement at the substantial number of people dismissing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rightful inclusion in the constitution. She earnestly solicited Australia’s support for their cause, urging them to vote yes and grant them self-representation.

Dean Perkin, the director of Yes23, offered a promising picture of a transformed Australia, should the Yes vote prevail. He tried to allay anxieties, expressing the absence of any associated fear or loss. On the contrary, he claimed a victory would only bring about positive changes for the country and called upon Australians to cast a generous vote.

According to Albanese, this vote transcends the singular, determining its value and influence in shaping the future of the first Australians. These outcomes include recognition in the nation’s foundational document, the subsequent establishment of an advisory committee to address Indigenous concerns, and the chance to enhance results.

Noel Pearson, a leading Yes campaigner, challenged Australians to rise above their political biases and consider the vote’s larger significance. He reminded them of the rareness of such opportunities and the substantial difference it can make to their country’s future.

Ken Wyatt, the former Indigenous Australians minister, noted a downfall in the Voice’s support from 69 per cent during his tenure. He lamented this decline and the lack of serious dialogue with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Wyatt voiced concerns over the impact of a potential ‘strong no’ on Indigenous policy reform, fearing it might make the government apprehensive about future initiatives.

Wyatt also criticised the No campaign for their alarmingly ‘Trumpian’ tactics whilst Dutton upheld the opposition’s respectful conduct during the campaign. However, he remarked the lack of clarity and practical outcomes from the proposal for Indigenous Australians. He also rebuked Albanese for his Voice obsession, claiming it had veered him away from the faith of many Australians and the more pressing issues.

Pearson, steering the discussion back to the Voice, emphasised how it could tackle cost of living issues for Indigenous Australians. In his view, the solution to many challenges that ordinary Australians are grappling with could be found in their Voice.