Channel Seven star reveals he REFUSES to vote in upcoming Voice referendum after claiming ‘thousands of Yes protesters walked past’ homeless Indigenous man in Melbourne
Channel Seven entertainment reporter Peter Ford has sparked a debate after accusing protesters at Melbourne’s “Walk for Yes” rally of “pretending to care” about struggling indigenous people.
Around 30,000 activists descended on Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday afternoon to urge Australians to vote “yes” in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
Hours later, Melbourne-based Ford took to .
“Fascinating to see a homeless Aboriginal man outside Flinders Street Station this afternoon as hundreds, if not thousands, of YES protesters walk right past him,” the showbiz journalist wrote.
“No one stopped to recognize him. Nobody gave him anything. Maybe it happened outside of the 20 minutes I was watching,” he added.
Channel Seven entertainment reporter Peter Ford (pictured) has sparked debate after accusing protesters at the March for Yes rally in Melbourne of “pretending to care” about struggling indigenous people.
His post sparked a furious response from users who accused him of being hypocritical by “standing and watching” rather than helping the Aboriginal man himself.
Ford rejected the accusation, emphasizing that, unlike the Yes campaigners, he did not “walk around holding up signs pretending to care.”
Ford also revealed that he would not vote at all during the referendum, even though voting is banned. mandatory in all federal elections in Australia.
Around 30,000 activists descended on Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday afternoon to urge Australians to vote “yes” in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum. (Pictured: Yes supporters march in Melbourne on Sunday September 17)
Hours later, Melbourne-based Ford took to .
“So your plan is to vote no and leave things as they are?” ” asked one user, to which Ford responded, “I’m not voting.”
Failure to vote without “valid and sufficient reason” in a referendum constitutes an offense and can result in a fine.
However, no law prohibits a voter from leaving their ballot blank at the voting booth.
Ford later deleted his initial post after being flooded with angry messages.
Ford also revealed that he would not vote at all in the referendum, even though voting is compulsory in all federal elections in Australia.
“Previous tweet deleted only because I’m not in the mood to overindulge on a nice Sunday arvo. Of course I hit a nerve!” he began.
“People clearly don’t know about the Melbourne CBD and the number of homeless people you see on every block you walk. That was my observation. You don’t like it, that’s okay,” Ford concluded.
Voting for the Voice to Parliament referendum will take place on Saturday October 14, 2023.
Ford later deleted his initial post after being flooded with angry messages
The question posed to Australians will be: “A Bill: to amend the constitution to recognize Australia’s first peoples by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice.” Do you approve of this proposed change?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly stated that Voice would be an advisory body to Parliament that would allow First Nations people to participate in a discussion about the laws that affect them and what is needed in their communities.
Despite falling support in the polls, the Yes campaign remains confident in its ability to achieve victory, relying on non-‘soft’ voters and Australians who have yet to take part in the debate.
For the referendum to be successful, the majority of Australians in the majority of states must vote yes.
Support for Yes has fallen from over 60 per cent to 40 per cent or less, partly due to comments made by those behind the Voice to Parliament and the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The most recent Resolve Political Monitor survey showed that 43 percent of voters supported a plan to enshrine Voice in the Constitution, a drop of 20 percentage points from last year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has repeatedly said the Voice would be an advisory body to Parliament that would allow First Nations people to participate in a discussion about the laws that affect them and what is needed in their communities .
