‘No’ campaigners confident Australian referendum will not pass
High-profile ‘no’ campaigners who oppose a voice to Australia’s parliament are confident the referendum will fail and have called for unity after the vote and greater action to assist Indigenous people.
‘No’ advocate Warren Mundine said he was feeling good about the result swinging his way after a visit to a polling booth in Sydney on Saturday morning.
“I’m feeling comfortable,” Mr Mundine told Nine’s Today program.
“I’ve just come from polling booths in Randwick on the way to the airport, talked to the team out there and you know, they energised me.”
Polling suggests the referendum is set to be defeated on both a state by state basis and overall population vote, despite a small uptick towards ‘Yes’ in the final days of the campaign.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said he didn’t take the result for granted but the Australian people always got it right.
“Myself as a political leader won’t be doing victory laps or won’t be yelling or screaming and giving back slaps,” he said.
“But I will there to be constructive with the right tone and respect of bringing our lived experience for regional, rural and remote Indigenous Australians about how we close the gap for them.”
Mr Littleproud said he was proud of setting what he described as a respectful tone in the debate and for the way his party argued the ‘no’ case.
“We have respected the intent that everyone has come to the debate with but we have argued ours on intellect rather than emotion or a vibe,” he said.
That contrasted with independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, who claimed the referendum had exposed elements of racism on both sides of the campaign and caused trauma.
“This referendum has done nothing but hurt people, divide communities, divide families,” Ms Thorpe told reporters at a polling station in Melbourne while wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Vote No’.
Ms Thorpe has been pushing for a treaty over an enshrined advisory body but indicated she was open to supporting a legislated voice if it had grassroots representation.
“This country is not ready to decide on our destiny, it never has been,” she said.
“We have to self determine our own destiny and the only way we can do that is through truth telling in this country.”
Mr Mundine urged Australians to accept the result and come together as a nation after polls close at 6pm.
“Whether it is yes, whether it is no, we have all got to come back together and start working on the real issues that are going to make this country a better country,” he said. (AAP)
