- Nicho Hynes supported the Yes vote for the referendum
- Hynes joins Nathan Cleary in supporting the campaign
- Anthony Mundine, however, expressed his opposition
Dally M medalist Nicho Hynes has become the latest celebrity to support The Voice, with the Cronulla Sharks hero insisting “it’s time to recognize 65,000 years of proud Aboriginal culture”.
A short video of the football star was shared on social media on Tuesday, after three-time premiership winner Nathan Cleary backed the campaign.
Hey guys, this is Nicho Hynes, he began. “I’m voting yes because it’s time to recognize 65,000 years of proud Indigenous culture.”
“It’s about recognizing listening and better outcomes for our Indigenous communities.
“So please join me in voting yes.”
Nicho Hynes supported the Vote Yes campaign ahead of the vote referendum
Australians will vote on Indigenous Voice on Saturday
Hynes’ statement follows Cleary’s public support for the vote, which caused a stir online after it was shared by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
A short video of the Panthers star was shared on the X account last week with the caption “That’s a yes from @_nathancleary.”
‘No voice, no choice. Go Australia. Vote yes,” the Panthers halfback said.
The 25-year-old then gives a thumbs up to the camera while wearing a T-shirt in the same colors of the Aboriginal flag and the logo: “We support the Uluru Declaration”.
Several fans were left unconvinced by Mr Albanese’s latest celebrity endorsement, which follows Cleary’s stellar performance in guiding his team to a miraculous victory in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday.
“How to go from hero to zero in less than 24 hours @_nathancleary,” one person commented.
“WOW… well that’s it, if a footballer who has taken numerous hits to the head thinks he’s a spectator it must be good,” a second person wrote.
“Yes, when I consider changing the constitution I normally take the views of rugby league players,” a third person added.
A fourth person wrote: “What a great player he is. But that’s not going to influence the way I vote,” while another claimed he “sold his soul to the devil for a third prime ministership.”
Hynes follows Nathan Cleary in supporting Anthony Albanese-backed campaign
But one football legend has expressed his disapproval of the vote. Anthony Mundine claimed a Yes vote would “enslave humanity” and threatened Mr Albanese after visiting the boxing champion’s mosque in Sydney last week.
“Look, I’ve had enough, they’re bringing the prime minister to the place of worship, to the mosque, and pushing this ‘Yes’ shit,” Mundine said in a clip posted online.
“Pushing you, asking you to go and give yourself away, to enslave humanity and to enslave the people, asking you to push this new world order shit.
He added: “If he comes to the mosque, wallahi, wallahi, I will bring a group of brothers and we will make a mess.” “It’s gone now, it’s still going on.”
Mr Albanese became the third Prime Minister to visit the mosque.
But former football star and boxer Anthony Mundine is against the referendum
Mr Mundine is among a number of high-profile Indigenous figures who are opposing the Yes campaign. Other “no” campaigners included Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine.
The Voice Referendum aims to recognize Indigenous Australians in the constitution, creating an advisory body to get their views on policy.
According to the Albanian government, a yes vote would recognize heritage, promote inclusion, resolve disparities and promote reconciliation.
