Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett calls Voice to Parliament referendum ‘one of the most important decisions we will all make in our lives’
Peter Garrett has shared his candid views on the Voice to Parliament referendum.
The Midnight Oil rocker and former politician appeared on The Project Friday night and explained why he’s voting Yes.
“I think this is one of the most important decisions we will all make in our lives,” the 70-year-old said.
“It is not so much a political question as the national interest. Do something good for a change,’ he continued.
“Giving Aboriginal Australians the opportunity to provide advice to parliament. And it’s just an advisory body. That’s all the Voice is.
Peter Garrett (left) shared his candid views on the Voice to Parliament referendum. The Midnight Oil rocker and former politician appeared on The Project Friday night and explained why he’s voting Yes.
“I mean, there’s been a lot of noise about it, but it’s just an advisory body. It’s an idea that they – a majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – community leaders and members put forward.
“And what we have done so far as a country has simply failed to close the disadvantage gap,” Peter added.
“I will vote yes and I will encourage my fellow Australians to vote yes too.” I think we have an opportunity to do something positive.
“It’s modest, but it should be a step forward.”
Garrett spent nine years in Parliament, between 2004 and 2013, as Kingsford Smith’s minister and a Labor Party member.
The musician served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts between 2007 and 2010, under then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
“I think this is one of the most important decisions we will all make in our lives,” the 70-year-old said.
After being re-elected in 2010, he served as Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth under Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Garrett did not contest the 2013 election, but retired from politics.
He is also known as the frontman of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, of which he has been a member since 1972.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 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.
Despite falling support in the polls, the 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.
“It is not so much a political question as the national interest. Do something good for a change,’ he continued
