The two leading No campaigns against an Indigenous voice to parliament are coming together.
Warren Mundine, chairman of the Recognise a Better Way Group, says his organisation will merge with conservative lobby group Advance, forming a new entity that will be known as Australians for Unity.
Mundine says he and shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Jacinta Namijinpa Price will remain as the spokepeople for the campaign.
The merger was done to avoid the campaigns “competing with each other,” for funding resources and was a “happy conclusion” to negotiations.
Funding for the No campaign has been noticeably less than the Yes campaign.
During last October’s budget the government extended deductible gift recipient status to Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, the main campaign behind the Yes vote.
The status means donors are able to make tax-deductible donations to the group.
Recognise a Better Way has complained that they haven’t received the same status despite not submitting applications till March.
Mundine withdrew the application shortly before the 2023 federal budget was released.
He says it was done in order to have Australians for Unity receive the status instead.
A launch for the new campaign is expected to be held soon.
