The Voice Referendum - Oct 2023

[Corona Man]

This one is a delicate area, so I'd encourage some diplomacy if posting a reply.

I am concerned that what this referendum is trying to achieve may make the goal harder to accomplish. It's so divisive.

This is a conscious vote, and I hope it will be respected as such.

We are considering lodging postal votes, as I am afraid some polling booths could get a little fractious.

Any thoughts along those lines?

[Booney]

Currently :

Will Australia vote Yes in the Voice referendum?

Yes $3.25
No $1.30

[Booney]

Am I in favor of constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians? Absolutely I am.

Do I have enough information about how the Voice will work in practice? I don't believe I do.

Do I think I am one of many who are in the same thought process and remain undecided? Yes, yes I do.

[Corona Man]

Am I in favor of constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians? Absolutely I am.

Do I have enough information about how the Voice will work in practice? I don't believe I do.

Do I think I am one of many who are in the same thought process and remain undecided? Yes, yes I do.

Well put.

I hope that if the No vote does gets up, that the question is put again, but with a lot more info around it, structure, implications, cost etc.

One piece I read on this said..... "What we need is ears in Canberra, not a voice".

[MW]

Am I in favor of constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians? Absolutely I am.

Do I have enough information about how the Voice will work in practice? I don't believe I do.

Do I think I am one of many who are in the same thought process and remain undecided? Yes, yes I do.

Spot on
Is the vote mandatory?

[Corona Man]

Am I in favor of constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians? Absolutely I am.

Do I have enough information about how the Voice will work in practice? I don't believe I do.

Do I think I am one of many who are in the same thought process and remain undecided? Yes, yes I do.

Spot on
Is the vote mandatory?

Yes I believe it is.

[amber_fluid]

Am I in favor of constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians? Absolutely I am.

Do I have enough information about how the Voice will work in practice? I don't believe I do.

Do I think I am one of many who are in the same thought process and remain undecided? Yes, yes I do.

Spot on
Is the vote mandatory?

Yep

[amber_fluid]

Voting on something as important as this whilst knowing very little about it is just ridiculous

[MW]

Voting on something as important as this whilst knowing very little about it is just ridiculous

That's my point.

The amount of people who will submit blank votes or 'no' votes purely on not understanding will ensure the 'no' vote wins in a landslide

[Booney]

Interesting that 4 or 5 people who I would consider level minded are left feeling as though they are under informed.

If the vote is no Albanese only needs to find a mirror to see why it failed.

[MW]

When our first nations are split on the vote, it puts a lot of doubt in my mind also.

[Booney]

May I also say that the level of respect shown in this thread has been established and should be maintained on what is a most sensitive topic.

[gadj1976]

Likewise, I would vote yes but I really don't know or understand enough for it to be a 'Yes".

[Jimmy_041]

Am I in favor of constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians? Absolutely I am.
Do I understand how it will work? No - how can I?
Do I trust what I am being told by either side? No
Will I vote Yes because people will abuse me if I dont? Absolute No

This one is as bad as the Head of State one.

Am I in favor of an Australian Head of State? Absolutely I am.
Do you like what we are offering as the alternative? No
Will I vote Yes because people will abuse me if I dont? Absolute No

Considering this has consumed so much energy in the best part of a year, you would think they would have done a better job.
They've learnt nothing from the past. Maybe they need to start listening...........

[am Bays]

I am torn

My heart say yes to constitutional recognition of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander brothers and sisters

But as others have said I’m am not convinced as to the practical realities of what this voice actually is and that will actually make a difference to close the gap.

There’s already an advisory group to parliament on aboriginal and Torres Strait islander issues

Just like there are advisory groups on Aged Care, Veterans, education etc

What’s this voice going to be made of? I’ve heTd different proposals from those closer to this than I

ATSIC mk 2
Elected ATSI representatives from each state and territory
Direct appointments by the govt of the day
Elected representatives from land councils

The big issue is cultural authority as an example unless you’re connected and have permission you can’t have a Kuarna elected woman speaking on behalf of APY men. I’ve seen this stuff first hand in government meetings in the NT.

My vote will be governed by listening to the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander mob I respect.

I respect Pearson and Ritchie Fejo (larrakia elder) whosay yes

My best mate (former cabinet minister) and Ngampa-Price I respect and they do know

I heard last night an old aboriginal lady who used to hide in in the long grass out the back of Darwin so she wouldn’t be taken away like her sisters is considering voting no.

So if you asked me Tues I was voting yes, today I’m leaning towards No.

As Booney says the failure of Albo to state what the practicalities of this are is what’s going to sink it.

We could have done what NZ and Canada and simply recognise our aboriginal and Torres Strait islander mob in the constitution but we tried to go one better and enshrine a voice

My tip it’ll be like the referendum result in 1977 to align MHR and senate elections to the same time period

Popular vote will be in favour by about 65:35 but because the states will be split 3 yes 3 no, it will be defeated.

[shoe boy]

YES FOR ME

[RB]

This is the proposed addition to the constitution (i.e. will be inserted into the constitution if Yes vote prevails):

“Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
- there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
- the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”

Thought it would be useful to include this in the thread, without further comment.

[MW]

This is the proposed addition to the constitution (i.e. will be inserted into the constitution if Yes vote prevails):

“Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
- there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
- the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”

Thought it would be useful to include this in the thread, without further comment.

In my simple brain, for current first nations MPs, is that the same thing that they can currently do on behalf of first nations people?

I suppose this 'voice' would take away the risk of no first nations MPs voted in

[Jimmy_041]

Interesting numbers........
For those who intend to retort with Newcorpse stuff, Kos Samaras is saying they are seeing similar trends
Maybe Johnny Farnham can save the day & Albo (+ a couple of others) as well because Alan Joyce is doing everything possible to bring him down. I appreciate Farnham has been sick, but surely someone should have signed Farnham up a year ago. It was an almost perfect rallying cry.

Hard to say if the change in Govt / Albo's dis/approval numbers is because of:
a) Referendum
b) Qantas
c) Cost of Living
d) all of the above.

[Jim05]

When Dutton is the only opposition then Albo could literally lay a steaming turd in the middle of Rundle Mall and it wouldn’t make one iota of difference.
Albo and Labor have a free hit for at least the next election and possibly longer.