Premier’s reconciliation pledge after ‘strong Voice feedback’

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged to push ahead with reconciliation and acknowledged the “strong feedback” against an indigenous Voice, saying she respects that voters here “are not ready”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged to push ahead with reconciliation and acknowledged the “strong feedback” against an indigenous Voice.

Queensland led the nation in opposing the Voice, with 68 per cent of people voting No.

Ms Palaszczuk, who supported the Voice, said the “Australian people” had spoken.

“Their voice tells me they’re not ready,” she said.

“I respect that. They never get it wrong.”

Ms Palaszczuk, who attended few public events for the Yes campaign and spent Saturday night at the Polish Club’s celebrations, said improving the wellbeing of First Nations peoples would continue to be a priority.

“We are a generous nation and we extend our hearts and our hand to all,” she said.

“This wasn’t the right way. I acknowledge the strong feedback.

“But that won’t stop our efforts to bring justice, reconciliation and material improvement to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

Labor MPs insist Queensland’s No vote in Saturday’s referendum won’t translate to a voter backlash against the Palaszczuk government at next year’s state election.

QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at polling booths in Inala, Richlands East and Durack to support the Yes campaign for the Referendum on the Voice. Photo: Facebook.

Early results showed the Yes vote ahead in inner-Brisbane, and Greens-held electorates, while the conservative regional Queensland seats were showing a strong lead for the No campaign.

Saturday’s Newspoll found 58 per cent of Labor voters were likely to write Yes and 81 per cent of Coalition supporters likely to vote No.

The likelihood of Queensland voting No prompted concerns within the Palaszczuk government over whether actively campaigning for the Yes camp would drag down its support.

Ms Palaszczuk, who held few public events in support of the Yes campaign, voted at Inala TAFE on Saturday.

“Today I’m voting yes for constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament,” she said.

“It’s an important step … and will mean recognition, listening and better outcomes for First Nations people.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at polling booths in Inala.

The Premier last month insisted voters would see the Voice and her government as “two separate issues” – a comment backed by several Labor MPs on Saturday.

While one MP said the referendum “hasn’t felt very political”, they suggested more leadership was needed “at all levels” for the Yes campaign to be successful.

“Some within the (Palaszczuk government’s) leadership have been quiet because they fear losing votes.

“But this is why people get frustrated with politicians,” they said.

Qld Labor MPs insist they don’t believe there will be voter backlash.

Another regional Labor MP disagreed, declaring the Voice and the performance of the Palaszczuk government – which polling indicates is on track to lose the 2024 election – were “completely separate”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said he would vote No, but not campaign on the referendum.