Sunrise host Matt Shirvington confronts Anthony Albanese over huge issue for The Voice – before Albo calls out the ‘arrogance’ of the No camp
Sunrise host Matt Shirvington asked Anthony Albanese some tough questions after new research revealed Australians are more concerned about the cost of living than the Indigenous voice in Parliament.
Millions of Australians will head to the polls on Saturday to vote in the referendum, with the Yes campaign heading for defeat.
But the Prime Minister insists Voice can still cross the finish line by lambasting the No camp and accusing it of arrogance and spreading false information.
As Mr Albanese made a last-minute speech on a TV breakfast show on Friday, new research was released listing the issues most important to Australians.
Healthcare and wellbeing was ranked as the biggest priority, followed by housing and then soaring energy and household costs.
The Voice referendum was behind in 17th position, prompting Shirvo to suggest it was not an important issue in the lives of Australians.
Matt Shirvington and co-host Nat Barr grilled the Prime Minister on Friday
“A lot of this stuff is about the cost of living, way before this vote. How do you feel about this? he asked the Prime Minister.
“The idea that you’ve tried to, I suppose, show the importance of this and what it means as a reflection of Australia, but Australians don’t see this as important as other things in their life.”
Mr Albanese admitted the Voice would not impact the lives of 97 per cent of Australians.
“Shirvo, that’s exactly what I was saying. “It’s a change that won’t impact most of your listeners,” he said.
“For non-Indigenous Australians, it won’t have any impact. Because it’s such a modest change.
“Just recognize First Australians in the constitution and create a non-binding advisory committee of Indigenous Australians on Indigenous Australian issues so we can achieve better outcomes.”
“So it will have no impact on the lives of 97 per cent of Australians.” And yet it could make a difference and improve things for the most disadvantaged 3% of Australians who have an eight-year life expectancy gap.
Anthony Albanese spent Friday morning doing breakfast TV interviews and launching an 11 a.m. pitch to Australians to vote yes on Saturday.
The Prime Minister believes Voice can win, adding that most Australians have yet to vote.
“I think there has been some arrogance on the part of the No campaign and some misinformation going around,” he said.
“I think when Australians go to the polls and wonder if I will just write three letters YES to recognizing the first Australians in our constitution, that’s a good thing.”
“I hope Australians can find it in their hearts but also in their heads to say that we need to do things better.”
He earlier told the Today show that Voice was a request from Australia’s First Nations after years of consultation with thousands of Indigenous communities.
“This is not my campaign. This is a request from First Australians…and it is a gracious request.
“We simply ask our fellow Australians to accompany them on the path to reconciliation.”
“This is a once-in-a-generation recognition opportunity.”
