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.

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 former Labor minister and lead singer of rock band Midnight Oil, Peter Garrett, lent his support 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.”

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.

As local pre-polling opened on Monday Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, urgers eligible voters to cast a ballot.

“The last referendum was in 1999 and no one under the age of 42 has ever voted in a referendum before, that’s why it’s important to remind people get out and vote,” she said.

“Whether voting early, voting via the post or voting on referendum day, your vote is powerful and that’s one of the great things about our democracy.”

– ALISTAR FINLAY & AAP