Rockhampton voters share how they voted on the Voice

The Morning Bulletin visited the pre-polling booth at the Rockhampton Showgrounds and spoke to people as they came out. Here are their thoughts.

Vanessa Jarrett

4 min read

October 13, 2023 - 1:32PM

Rockhampton

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A steady stream of people attended the pre-poll voting booth for the Voice referendum at the Rockhampton Showgrounds on Tuesday afternoon.

Stalls from the Yes and No campaigns were set up and offered pamphlets to people as they walked past.

As people came out of the voting booth, many commented on how quickly they could vote.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN VOTE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

Some locals eagerly shared their votes and thoughts about the Voice, while others declined to comment publicly.

Here are what some of them said.

For more exit polls from across the state and interactive maps, see this story.

KERRY LYNAM

Kerry Lynam at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I think the Aboriginals are overrepresented … they have a big representation in Parliament. The Voice will not help them out. I do not see any good coming out of it. How will it change their employment, drunkenness, violence, poor health? I don’t think the Voice will change that. Politicians already know these problems, why aren’t they addressing them without the Voice. Politicians have failed the Aboriginals, in my opinion.

COL WATKINS

Col Watkins at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I voted no. We have already spent $35 billion dollars on Indigenous affairs … not much result, just adding more cost to a problem.

REGINA BACKHOUSE

Regina Backhouse at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

I voted yes because I believe it is well and truly over time that the First Nations people were recognised in this country and I honestly don’t know what all the no people are afraid of.

EMMA IRVINE

Emma Irvine at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

It looks like it’s great for the future and I hope we get a yes.

RICHARD COOPER

Richard Cooper at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I voted no, division on the base of race … this country has always been immigrants coming in … fair enough they are Indigenous but we are all one.

JEFF KERWITZ

Jeff Kerwitz at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I truly think they should make this country more equal; what I have come across so far, it’s not happening and the politicians aren’t making it better. I voted no.

ALICE HARE

Alice Hare at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

I think it’s an important symbolic move and I think it’s really an acknowledgment and respect for the Indigenous population.

YVONNE KELLEY

Yvonne Kelley at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

I class this as the most important vote I have ever made. I will be sorry if Australia does not show love and respect.

JENNY

Jenny at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I just don’t think there was enough information to consent to a yes vote.

MARTIN HEMMING

Martin Hemming at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I just said no because I don’t know what I’m voting for. They haven’t told us anything.

ROBERT FINDLAY

Robert Findlay at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: No

I don’t like the idea of division, so that’s why I voted no.

JAN JARRATT:

Jan Jarratt at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

I voted yes today because I think we need to heal this country and our First Nations people, we should be so proud and supportive of.

ROBERT MANN:

Robert Mann at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

Recognition of Indigenous, Torres Strait Islanders, First Nations people… they haven’t been recognised in the Constitution. No good going backwards.

ROBERT GREEN:

Robert Green at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

I am in recognition of the struggles our First Nations people did have. I am about bringing together the gap; I do like the idea Australia provides itself on being progressive and inclusive. I think this is just another good step and led the way as a global example in unity.

JONATHAN HOCH

Jonathan Hoch at the Rockhampton pre-poll voting booth for The Voice referendum on October 10 2023.

Vote: Yes

It’s just such an obvious, basic thing to give recognition, more or less everybody agrees. (John) Howard promised it back in the early 90s … everyone agrees with a referendum on recognition and the only difference with this is that Parliament would be required to legislate a Voice. What is a Voice? It’s an advisory committee; so, what’s the big deal? It’s so much short-term political opportunism, people are thinking about the next three years instead of the next three to 10 decades, it’s for the future of the country.

CORY MCLEOD

Vote: Declined to answer

It wasn’t an easy decision. I felt like there wasn’t enough, easy to understand information on both sides. I felt like there was a lot of politics involved in both campaigns, but I am happy with what I have decided.

DEB KROUGH

Vote: No

The original idea was brilliant. I’ve worked with Aboriginal people all my life; the original idea was great, and it got bastardised and politicised.

IRENE SKRZYPCZYNSKI

Vote: Yes

I came from Poland and when I came here 40 years ago, I was quite surprised how little we knew about Aboriginal culture. I also work as a nurse and knowing the culture was very hard to look after. I believe what we have done so far in Australia hasn’t worked, why not do something different, give those people a chance.

DANNY BATES

Vote: Yes

I think everyone has to have a voice, some have too many voices … even things up.

JEANETTE AND ARCH FINLAYSON

Vote: No

Very divisive, so I am definitely voting no. I think it would be divisive to have one race in the country represented in the Constitution when we are supposed to be all Aussies, with a wide range of population.

JUDITH STEPHENSON

Vote: No

I’ve got a lot of good Aboriginal friends, lovely people, couldn’t find better people. But I don’t think this is going to help the Aborigines in the camps, out west. I think it is going to help the ones in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane. They are going to skim the money off the top like they always do and they are not going to help the poor buggers who need it.