Revealed: The Qld voters targeted in massive Indigenous Voice blitz
A major campaign in support of the Indigenous Voice to parliament is set to undertake a messaging blitz through Queensland - with these voters specifically targeted. VOTE NOW
QLD Politics
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A major campaign in support of the Indigenous Voice to parliament is set to undertake a messaging blitz through Queensland in a bid to shore up support in the state amid flagging support.
And it’s understood voters aged over 35 will be specifically targeted, with internal Yes23 campaign research showing the demographic had a high level of undecided voters looking for more information before making up their minds.
Most opinion polls, including the latest Newspoll, show support for the Voice to parliament is dimming, with Queensland on track to return a No vote.
But the Yes23 campaign’s blitz of Queensland from Saturday is set to signal they haven’t lost hope, and every vote counts as a referendum needs a “double majority”– a majority of voters in four of six states and national majority of voters – to succeed.
Australians will head to the polls in October, for the first referendum in 24 years, and vote on whether or not they support formally recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first inhabitants of the nation and putting in place a constitutionally enshrined Voice.
If established, the Voice will be an advisory body to parliament and the federal government, providing input on policy matters affecting First Nations peoples – including health, education, and economic disadvantage.
Leading Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo said the events “roadshow”, stretching from Maroochydore up north to Hervey Bay, Cherbourg, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton, would be the “perfect opportunity” for Queenslanders to gather information.
“This is a chance to talk to people throughout Queensland about how constitutional recognition through a Voice will deliver better outcomes for Indigenous Australians across areas including housing, jobs, health, and education,” he said.
Yes23 is boasting of a 2000-strong volunteer base across Queensland and 30 community supporter groups spread across the state.
The blitz comes days after the Yes and No argument pamphlets – which aren’t fact checked – were published by the Australian Electoral Commission.
It is also timed as a group of more than 30 young First Nations leaders from across the country meet in Brisbane to focus their efforts on winning the referendum.
The gathering will culminate in the launch of the Uluru Youth Dialogue Ambassador program which will see more than 30 new ambassadors named and ready to go out into their local communities to campaign for the Yes vote.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week said the Yes campaign needed to put its case more strongly and conceded it was facing an uphill battle. “The Yes campaign needs to be stronger in putting the case because we know that referendums in Australia have been difficult – in the past only eight out of 48 (have been successful,” he said.
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