Australia’s multicultural heartland reveals what it thinks of the Voice

NSW’s multicultural heartland of Western Sydney will be the key to winning the Voice referendum. So what do they think of the proposal? Read their views.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised the support of faith groups and multicultural communities for an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament but voices on the ground in Sydney’s multicultural heartland say the referendum’s key battleground is not listening.

Multicultural communities — who dominate Sydney’s west and southwest — are the key target of the Yes side with a majority of undecided voters falling into the demographic.

30 Yes events were held in Western Sydney just last weekend with Mr Albanese telling Labor caucus on Tuesday that he was grateful for the support of multicultural communities.

While some faith and community leaders have publicly pledged support, residents in diverse communities in Sydney’s west and south do not know what the Voice is.

Federation of Indian Associations of NSW spokesman Dr Yadu Singh said his community — which makes up one of the fastest growing migrant groups in Australia — was largely indifferent to the proposal.

Indian-Australian community leader Yadu Singh said the people he represents were indifferent to the Voice. Picture: Supplied

“I would say, people are disengaged, they are confused and a small number of people who are party people say we should vote for it,” he said.

“There is not enough proper information out there. Everybody agrees we should recognise the First Nations but they need to know what exactly is in this project and nobody should get any veto, everybody should be equal.”

Mr Singh said some community members had concerns the Voice might be similar to India’s caste-based reservations system.

More than a third of NSW residents doorknocked by Yes campaigners are undecided and No has edged ahead at 53 per cent while Yes fell to 38 per cent.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland represents one of the most diverse electorate in NSW, and said the community was “switched on”.

“People are switched on irrespective of what multicultural background or community they might be representing,” she said.

“Sikh Youth Australia are running their own seminar looking at the referendum and they’ve got (rapper) L Fresh the Lion.

Diana Mtashar, shop assistant at Cosabella Boutique. Picture: Julian Andrews

“I’ve noticed a few groups partnering up and … doing a Say Yes to the Voice seminar.”

Fowler independent MP Dai Le, who is of Vietnamese heritage, said she didn’t see the enthusiasm reflected in her own community and electorate.

“We have not been approached in our office or me being stopped in the street with anyone asking me about this matter,” she said.

“There was a Vietnam veterans day a couple of weeks ago and a couple of the senior Vietnam veterans said to me that they found this very divisive.”

Ms Le said the Vietnamese community did not know the details of the Voice because of a lack of engagement with mainstream media.

Vineet Vaibhav, in Chatswood. Picture: Justin Lloyd. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Wisam Mohsin, owner of a clothes store in Liverpool. Picture: Julian Andrews

“They don’t follow mainstream news, they don’t follow mainstream media. They mainly watch news in Vietnamese. My poor mum, who has passed since, she would watch videos of cooking and religion,” she said.

“I think the government sending out materials in different languages will really help.”

The disengagement has prompted the government to roll out diverse MPs to campaign across multicultural communities.

Alex Atzori, in Chatswood. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Lillian Read in Liverpool. Picture: Julian Andrews

“To help multicultural communities better understand the referendum, we’ve translated material in key languages to ensure people get the information they need to make an informed decision on October 14. Last Saturday, I was at the Africultures Festival – the biggest annual African Festival in Australia and there was overwhelming support for the referendum there,” Reid MP Sally Sitou said.

Yes offshoots have emerged among multicultural communities with Australian local hero and Turbans4Australia founder Amar Singh campaigning for the Voice.

Tagney MP Sam Lim is of Malay and Chinese heritage and is working on a Voice information video which is translated and subtitled in Mandarin.

“I will make sure that this post will have subtitles in Chinese to reach the Chinese communities across Australia, who need to understand the importance of supporting this referendum,” he said.