Ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer’s 14,000km run for Yes arrives in Adelaide as Voice debate rages

The ultra-marathon runner says his massive run around the continent has revealed just how badly the body is needed.

Ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer says his 14,400km Voice campaign has seen first-hand the “need that’s out there” for Aboriginal communities as he hits Adelaide’s streets to promote the Yes vote.

Mr Farmer, a former Liberal MP, has run up to 80km per day since April to raise awareness for the Voice to parliament.

Joined on Tuesday by SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher and Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin, Mr Farmer said he believed SA – where both sides of the campaign have been focusing significant energy – would prove key to the referendum’s success.

“The people here in South Australia have a great history of embracing people from all over the world,” he said.

“I’ve seen families of more than 18 people living in one two bedroom home – and that’s the normal for certain communities.

“It wouldn’t be acceptable anywhere else in the country and it shouldn’t be acceptable in Indigenous communities.

“(The Voice is) about making sure that all Australians can live together in harmony and can move forward together with an acceptable way of life.”

Senator Don Farrell (left) with Pat Farmer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Pat Farmer's (kneeling in front) 14,400km Run for the Voice in Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Farmer’s run began in Tasmania back in April, and has taken him through WA, the NT, Canberra, Sydney – where he was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – and Victoria.

“I’ve travelled the whole size of this country … I’m meeting with real people on the ground,” he said.

“They’re supporting what I’m doing and they’re saying to me that they believe this is the right thing to do.”

He said he believed a quiet majority of Australians would be voting Yes come October 14.

“A No voter will go out of their way to cross six lanes of traffic and point in your nose and say that, tell you that they’re gonna vote No … they’ll scream it from the rooftops,” he said.

“Everybody else is just getting on with their lives – and now they’ll make their decision at the ballot box.”

The Adelaide leg of Mr Farmer’s run comes after a group of protesters was seen hurling insults at No supporters outside a Fair Australia rally – headlined by leading No campaigners senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine – at the Convention Centre on Monday evening,

Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin said the demonstrators were not affiliated with the Yes campaign and condemned their actions, saying there was “no place” for unruly behaviour.

“Those people there were not affiliated with the Yes campaign … we just encourage people to allow for respectful and dignified debate,” said.

“That’s what we’ve always been about as part of the Yes campaign – even those with opposing views have got to be respected and treated well.

“We’d encourage everybody involved in the debate to maintain that.”

Leaders alongside Kyam Maher at the Adelaide Walk for Yes in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga. Picture: Morgan Sette

Attorney-General Kyam Maher, Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin and SAACCON lead convener Scott Wilson. Picture: Emily Olle

On Saturday, an estimated 10,000 demonstrators flooded the CBD in support of the Yes campaign – including a group of Aboriginal elders, who led a ‘Yes’ chant in language alongside Mr Maher.

The Attorney-General said he hoped the symbolic gesture would speak to the overwhelming support the Voice has from First Nations people.

“The question I get asked most is what Aboriginal people think about this,” he said.

“The fact that people turned up with their own T shirts in language shows that Aboriginal people are supporting the Yes vote.

“Survey after survey, poll after poll show that somewhere in excess of 80 per cent of Aboriginal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are in favour of creating an advisory body that will help governments make better decisions.”

Mr Maher hoped Mr Farmer’s campaign efforts would provide some clarity for those still on the fence about how to vote.

“By (October 14), Pat will have run 14,000 kilometres in support of this vision to make Australia a better place … and give Indigenous Australians a fair go,” he said.

“My big message is that no one loses anything by what we’re proposing.

“It’s as simple as that.”