The types of Australians who vote Yes on Voice in Parliament and who join the No side
A new poll has laid bare what kinds of Australians are voting Yes and No on Indigenous Voice in Parliament, with data showing the two camps are split on education, home ownership and income.
A Newspoll, published in The Australian newspaper on Monday, showed that the ‘Yes’ camp has not won an outright majority in any state or territory, when both a majority of states and a majority of Australians are required to win.
Albanese dismissed suggestions that the ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum was in trouble, saying there was a long way to go before Australians would cast their ballots.
“We have a range of (not) campaigns designed to create confusion, actually, in the community,” he told ABC Radio.
‘There is nothing to fear from this process and everything to gain.’
Demographic analysis revealed that a sharp divide is forming among Australians.
It found that people with higher incomes, those with a college education, renters, and youth were most likely to support the indigenous advisory body.
Opponents of Voice included voters without a college education, retirees, mortgagees, and homeowners.
Although the race was still close, a referendum based on current attitudes would not reach the threshold of success.
Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the survey reflected people’s wishes for more information about voice.
“There are many more Indigenous Australians who don’t feel they have been represented through the Uluru Declaration from the Heart,” he said.
But former national MP Andrew Gee, who resigned from the party over his opposition to the voice, said large groups of voters were alienated as a result of the coalition position.
“I think the Voice will succeed, I think we’ll get through it, but if it doesn’t, there’s going to be a real vacuum about what has happened,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed suggestions that the ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum was in trouble, saying there was a long way to go before Australians would cast their ballots.
Opposition politician Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says the poll reflects a desire among Australians to learn more about Voice
“I think it’s a very short-sighted attitude (for the coalition) and I think in the long run, when the history books are written, history will judge them very poorly for it.”
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said she felt a push for the voice that was not reflected in the polls.
“Every day there is someone important who supports the ‘yes’ campaign…wherever I go, I feel that impulse,” he said.
Ms Burney said the opposition was trying to muddy the waters with questions about things the voice would not speak about.
She said the debate was affecting indigenous Australians, particularly young people.
“(The voice) will make a practical difference to the lives of Aboriginal people… which is why this referendum is worth going ahead with,” he said.
“I’ve been involved in Aboriginal politics for 44 years and I’ve seen many, many things and I can tell you that this opportunity for constitutional reform is our shot at the pigeonhole that will make a difference.”
The referendum is scheduled to take place in the last quarter of the year and the date will be announced by the Prime Minister in the coming weeks.
