Voice ‘certainly winnable’ as pre-polling opens: PM

THE referendum to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution is “certainly winnable”, the Prime Minister has said, as more Australian stars commit to the yes campaign.

All eligible Australians can cast a ballot on whether an Indigenous advisory body should be included in the constitution after a staggered start to early voting due to public holidays in some states and territories.

With most surveys including Newspoll and the Resolve Political Monitor showing declining support for the voice, things aren’t looking good for the yes campaign.

But with just over a week to go until the official polling day on 14 October, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the referendum isn’t over.

“It is certainly winnable,” he said. “When people have those one-on-one conversations about what the question is… people who are either undecided or soft no voters declare ‘yeah, that’s fair enough.’

“This is the right thing to do, this is consistent with the Australian principle of a fair go.”

This comes as Australian celebrities including former Labor minister and lead singer of rock band Midnight Oil Peter Garrett and NRL superstar Nathan Cleary lend their voices to the yes campaign.

One advertisement features Garrett telling people to find out more about the official yes campaign, set to the music of the band’s hit Power and the Passion.

“Your vote’s totally up to you, but don’t get sucked in by all the bulls*** scare campaigns,” Garrett says. “If you don’t know, find out.”

Cleary threw his support behind the voice the day after winning the NRL premiership with the Panthers in a video posted on social media.

However, no proponents including Nationals senator Matt Canavan have said the Government and Australian stars should focus on issues that matter, rather than the voice.

“The government only seems to have celebrities arguing for its constitutional change, not arguments,” he said.

“I think the higher the bar should be very high to get change, and with all respect to Mr Cleary, I think we need actual arguments about how this is going to improve people’s lives.”

Voting has already opened in Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Anyone able to vote in person on 14 October has been urged to do so as early voting is for those who cannot get to a polling centre on the day. Postal vote applications are open until 6pm on 11 October.

– AAP