New research shows support for the Voice slipping in every state but WA
The chances of the Voice to Parliament referendum succeeding are plummeting, with support now below the 50 per cent it needs nationally to pass.
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The chances of the Voice to Parliament referendum succeeding are plummeting, with support now below the 50 per cent it needs nationally to pass and the No case clearly ahead in NSW and neck-and-neck in Queensland and Victoria.
New research from pollster JWS Research shows the percentage of people who say they plan to vote or are leaning towards Yes has dropped nationally from 51 per cent in February to 46 per cent today.
The poll comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday rejected an Opposition call to legislate the Voice rather than press on to defeat at a referendum.
Worryingly for the advocates of the Voice, the growth in opposition from 36 per cent to 43 per cent since February has been bigger than the decline in its support.
This suggests opposition is not only gaining ground from voters changing their minds from Yes to No but that as the “undecideds” make up their minds, the majority of them are going to No. The number of men who oppose the Voice is significantly higher than the number of women.’’
Speaking in Sydney on Saturday, Mr Albanese brushed off the poll findings.
“We continue to put the case, Australians will make up their own mind. I encourage Australians to look at the wording that’s put forward, to talk with First Nations people as well,” he said.
According to the poll 50 per cent of men are planning or leaning towards voting No in October compared with 42 per cent who are inclined to vote yes, with only 8 per cent yet to make up their minds.
In contrast, 49 per cent of women are inclined to support the Voice compared to 37 per cent opposed with 14 per cent yet to decide.
The biggest change since February was in NSW, where the percentage of people voting or leaning towards voting Yes fell from 52 per cent to 41 per cent while the No vote leapt from 32 per cent to 47 per cent, with 12 per cent yet to make up their minds. But the pattern was the same in every state with No vote rising rapidly while the Yes vote fell.
In Queensland opposition to the Voice has risen eight points since February to 46 per cent while support has fallen from 48 per cent to 45 per cent.
The trend is the same in Victoria, which the Yes has been counting on winning.
The only state to buck the trend was WA, where support has increased by 11 per cent to 61 per cent.
Pollster John Scales said the l Government could end up regretting the long campaign.
“The Voice campaign is starting to resemble the 2016 eight-week long Turnbull election – something voters neither wanted nor asked for,” he said.
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