‘Yes to a better Australia’: Tens of thousands gather in Melbourne CBD for pro-Voice rally

Tens of thousands of people carrying placards and wearing T-shirts supporting an Indigenous Voice to parliament flooded Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday as Walk for Yes rallies drew crowds at cities across Australia.

First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair Rueben Berg addressed an initial gathering of about 5000 Yes supporters at the State Library, urging them to help increase broad community support for the Voice ahead of the October 14 referendum.

The walk ended at Federation Square.Credit: Chris Hopkins/The Age

“Yes to recognition, yes to listening, yes to better outcomes for First Peoples, and yes to a better Australia,” he said to a roaring crowd, before the procession headed down Swanston Street to Federation Square.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney was joined at the front of the march by other Labor MPs and senators, as well as AFL legend Eddie Betts, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation CEO Jill Gallagher and Uluru Dialogue member Marcus Stewart.

As the rally wound through the city, it continued to grow as onlookers of all ages joined its ranks. At the corner of Swanston Street and Bourke Street, a 100-strong choir greeted walkers with a rousing rendition of John Farnham’s You’re The Voice.

Crowds walk through Melbourne CBD for the Walk for Yes rally.Credit: Chris Hopkins/The Age

Bron Percival from St Kilda said it was important to attend the rally to show support for a Yes vote.

“I just can’t see any reason to say No. It’s a reasonable proposition. It’s a real opportunity that shouldn’t be allowed to fail.”

Kristen Retallik, who travelled from Shepparton, said she was voting Yes to be on the right side of history. “We want the future to be better for everyone,” she said.

Damien Slevison said Indigenous people should have a say in their own affairs. He described Sunday’s event as “uplifting and positive”.

Tens of thousands of people marched through Melbourne’s CBD in support of the Voice.Credit: Chris Hopkins/The Age

“There are years and years of research put into the Uluru Statement and the Voice advisory body, and it’s too important a thing to not be here today showing support,” he said.

More speeches met the crowd as it began to fill Federation Square, with Burney welcoming Voice co-architects Marcia Langton, Megan Davis and Pat Anderson to the event.

Voice supporters marched from the State Library to Federation Square just after midday.Credit: Chris Hopkins/The Age

”Today, thousands of Australians have walked down streets and across bridges. No longer should Australians accept an unsatisfactory status quo, and that is all the No camp is offering,” Burney said.

Live music began as the tailend of the rally continued to stream in around an hour after the arrival of the front of the rally, swelling the crowd size within the centre of Federation Square to the brink of its 10,000 capacity.

Former AFL star Eddie Betts (left) and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney at the Walk for Yes rally in Melbourne on Sunday.Credit: Chris Hopkins/The Age

A host of big names performed, including former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and rock band Spiderbait. The other cities’ events featured Dan Sultan, Missy Higgins, Bernard Fanning, Paul Kelly, John Butler and Augie March.

The rallies follow the Yes campaign’s launch of a $20 million advertising blitz on Saturday across all media formats. The new advertisement features a young Indigenous boy asking if he will “grow up in a country that hears my voice”.

Supporters of an Indigenous Voice to parliament show their support in Melbourne.Credit: Chris Hopkins

The launch of the ad marked the beginning of a month-long campaign to turn around polls before the nation votes in the referendum on Saturday, October 14. Recent polls suggest a majority of Australians do not support the Voice.

The referendum asks Australians if they approve changing the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an advisory committee to be known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

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