Indigenous Voice to Parliament Yes groups launch campaigns at Bellingen, Coffs, Nambucca
Indigenous Voice to Parliament Yes groups have formed on the Coffs Coast to make their case and provide more information about the monumental national referendum.
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Residents pushing for a Yes vote for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament have begun public campaigning on the Coffs Coast.
The Bellingen Yes Group launched its tilt at the weekend, while a Coffs Harbour cluster will do a meet and greet at the Jetty Markets on Sunday.
To the immediate south, another group will lead the Yes push at Valla, Nambucca Heads and Macksville.
Amber Jacobus is a co-convener for the Bellingen group, and said she felt compelled to “step up” as someone who lives on Gumbaynggirr land.
“We appreciate there’s a diversity of views and were a little nervous about how we might be received (at the launch), but people were positive,” Ms Jacobus said.
The referendum is due to be put sometime in October – the 14th has been bandied about – and if the Yes vote prevails it will enshrine in the constitution an Indigenous Voice to parliament.
A spate of recent polls have suggested support for the Yes vote has been waning, perhaps in part because many citizens are unaware of the statement that will be put to the test.
“When we showed people the actual question (for the referendum), they said: ‘Oh, I do support that’,” Ms Jacobus said.
“Through the group we want to create a space where people feel safe and can ask whatever question they like.”
Local volunteer-run yes groups have chosen NAIDOC Week as the time to trigger their campaigns.
“We’ll be doing markets, street stalls, door knocking and we’d love to have come community forums,” Ms Jacobus said.
Gathering at the Bellingen launch at Maam Baduying Park, the group was welcomed by Bellingen Shire councillor Ellie Tree and Gumbaynggirr elder Micklo Jarrett – both vocal supporters of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Within hours 20 new volunteers had signed up.
“We don’t plan to tell anyone what to do as there are a range of perspectives, but it’s important to talk it through with the facts with respect and dignity,” Ms Jacobus said.
“At the end of the day this is about improving the lives of our First Nations people through a more structured approach to their inclusion in decision-making about issues that impact their lives.”
Want to know more? People wanting to connect to a local Yes group can visit the Yes23 website https://yes23.com.au.
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