Heroes of the Yes vote: Top athletes to be recruited for Voice campaign

With a referendum on the Voice to parliament set to take place weeks after the AFL and NRL seasons, Australia’s top athletes could play a crucial role in the PM’s campaign. See who is likely to be on Albo’s list.

A cavalcade of Indigenous superstars is set to be recruited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sell Australians on a Yes vote for a Voice to parliament.

At the top of his wishlist is expected to be NBA star Patty Mills, Olympic sprinter Cathy Freeman, and footballers Johnathan Thurston and Adam Goodes.

The Government also hopes to deploy tennis legends Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and Ash Barty.

It comes as Qantas is considering Yes signs on the sides of its planes to urge Australians to back the proposal.

Political sources say the emphasis will be on enlisting beloved superstars to lead the campaign.

Ash Barty could be among Indigenous stars enlisted by Anthony Albanese for the ‘Yes’ vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

With a referendum on the Voice to parliament set to take place weeks after the AFL and NRL seasons, this year’s grand finals of the two codes are also set to feature appeals to fans to vote Yes.

The Government and Yes campaign organisers are preparing a blitz that will see corporate Australia join forces with the nation’s sporting codes to urge support.

Mr Albanese is expected to approach a number of Indigenous sporting champions.

Earlier this year Ash Barty and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley appeared together at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open’s First Nations round, at which Tennis Australia publicly supported the Voice.

They are expected to be joined by long-time Voice supporters Cathy Freeman and Adam Goodes.

Goodes, a former Australian of the Year, has been working behind the scenes building support for several months.

In the past Freeman, who rarely makes public comments, has come out in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart calling for a change to the constitution calling on Australians to support “what is right and fair”.

Rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston has also thrown his support behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart, saying its implementation would be “another giant step forward for our people”.

Top Australian basketballer Patty Mills. Picture: Mike Stobe

NRL legend Johnathan Thurston. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

Patty Mills, who at Tokyo became the first indigenous Australian Olympic flag bearer is also a strong supporter.

Yes Campaign Alliance director Dean Parkin said they had active supporters right across the community.

“Some of the Yes campaign’s supporters have platforms and public profiles and they include cultural and sporting figures,” he said.

“Naturally we have been speaking to them about their potential involvement in helping to bring the country together around the cause and create a moment of unity for the country.”

Mr Parkin said the campaign had been “delighted” with their engagement and the interest from all Australians who support the Voice.

“Famous people have just one vote like everybody else and our focus will be on ensuring every single Australian is welcomed into a warm conversation that leads to a resounding Yes,” he said.

A Qantas source said the airline was considering putting support for the Yes campaign on the side of its planes.

Speaking at Qantas’s gala dinner in Sydney, Mr Albanese praised the airline for its decision nine years ago to put “R” on some planes in support of constitutional ­recognition of indigenous Australians.