Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has now fallen below 50 per cent across all states and territories according to recent polling.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed off suggestions the success of the referendum is in trouble, saying there’s a long way to go before Australians enter the ballot box.
“We have a range of (‘No’) campaigns designed to create confusion, really, in the community,” he told ABC Radio.
“There is nothing to fear from this process and everything to gain.”
The poll published by The Australian shows the ‘Yes’ case hasn’t secured an absolute majority in any state.
It found those most likely to support the constitutional change were higher-income earners, university educated, renters and the young.
Those opposed to the voice included voters with no tertiary education, retirees, mortgagees and people who owned their home outright.
The Australian article says the race was still close, but the referendum based on current attitudes would fail to meet both requirements of a referendum.
Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney says she felt a momentum in favour of the voice that was not reflected in the polls.
“Every day there is someone significant coming out supporting the yes campaign … Everywhere I go, I feel that momentum,” she told the ABC.
Ms Burney says the opposition was trying to muddy the waters with questions about things the voice would not be about.
She says the debate was taking a toll on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders particularly young people.
“(The voice) will make a practical difference to the lives of Aboriginal people … that is why it is worth going forward with this referendum.
I’ve been involved in Aboriginal politics for 44 years and I have seen many, many things and I can tell you that this chance at constitutional reform is our shot in the locker that’s going to make a difference.”
For the referendum to succeed, a national majority in the affirmative and a majority of the six states is required.
An analysis in April, before the final wording of the referendum was settled, had showed majority support in every state except Queensland.
The Australian’s analysis showed the ‘Yes’ vote nationally at 43 per cent when averaged over surveys between May and July this year, with the ‘No’ vote at 46 per cent.
The ‘Yes’ case now leads in only NSW and South Australia, is tied with the no vote in Victoria and trails in Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania.
AAP
Image Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAP
