Sydney’s wealthiest and least multicultural suburbs the highest backers of the Voice

The wealthiest and least-multicultural suburbs of Sydney have been shown to be the biggest supporters of the Voice to Parliament, with the vote plummeting outside of the gentrified Inner West and the well-heeled eastern and northern suburbs.

The wealthiest and least-multicultural suburbs of Sydney have been shown to be the biggest supporters of the Voice to Parliament, with the vote plummeting outside of the gentrified Inner West and the well-heeled eastern and northern suburbs of the city.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler – where the median household weekly income of $2,388 soars above the nation’s median of $1,746 by 31 per cent – was one of the slim number of NSW electorates which voted in favour of the Voice.

In the city’s west, the Blacktown electorates of Chifley (with a median household weekly income of $1864) and Greenway ($1857) broadly mirrored the nation’s voting results, which stood at 60.5 per cent no, 39.5 per cent yes, with almost 80 per cent of votes counted.

According to 2021 census data, 80.3 per cent of Grayndler voters identify as English, Australian, Scottish or Irish ancestry, compared to Blacktown’s Greenway, where just 36.4 per cent of respondents reported Irish and Australian ancestry.

Indian was the next highest ethnicity in Greenway, with 17.2 per cent the electorate reporting Indian heritage.

Father Michael Jones and baby Vincent Jones shares his opinion on why their local area of Blacktown in Sydney's West, voted on the Voice. Photo: Gaye Gerard

In North Sydney – where the yes vote was successful – 71.4 per cent of the electorate identified as Australian, English, Irish or Scottish, while the median weekly income for a household is also $2,660.

Likewise, in the eastern suburbs electorate of Wentworth – where more than 62 per cent of voters voted yes to the Voice – more than 75 per cent of residents report Australian, English, Irish or Scottish heritage, with the median weekly household income $2870.

Residents across the electorates said the result showed a clear divide among the priorities of voters.

Blacktown mortgage broker Michael Jones said he thought residents in the wealthier parts of Sydney felt like they had a “social responsibility” to vote yes.

“In those more affluent areas … they would vote yes purely because it’s almost deemed wrong to not vote yes on these matters,” he said.

“They do it because it’s almost like a social reasonability in those parts of the world, and here there’s less implications on that side of things.”

Blacktown Fruit Market manager Mukhtar Ahmadi, who voted no to the referendum, said there seemed little reason to vote for the Voice when cost of living pressures were hitting so acutely.

Mukhtar Ahmadi Manager at the Blacktown Fruit Market shares his opinion on the Voice. Photo: Gaye Gerard

“We don’t see any good solutions from government … people aren’t happy, it’s as simple as that, especially myself even, (I) can’t catch up on (my) bills,” he said.

Daniel McMahon, a lawyer in North Sydney, reasoned that voters in the electorate who supported the Voice had a better grasp over how the proposal would have functioned.

“I think the people here probably had a better sensor idea as to the mechanics from a legal point of view as to how it would work being a higher sort of socio-economic area, because people in more sort of rural or suburban areas, probably didn’t have that understanding to a great extent,” he said.

Newtown local and yes voter Daniel Lyas said he was “gobsmacked” by the outcome of the vote.

“We’re feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment,” he said.

Mr Lyas said he puts the division in votes among electorates down to “socio-economic background, different cultural identities and education levels.”

Clovelly resident Luke Worthington (centre) with his family Edward, 9, Catherine, and Ruby, 12, and their friend Bobby Murdoch at Bondi Beach. Photo: Max Mason-Hubers

Friend Rosie Byrt said the result highlighted for her the “bubble we live in”.

“It goes to show (how) little you know about your wider community,” she said.

Clovelly local Luke Worthington said he was not surprised by the vote outcome despite all voting yes.

We didn’t have any dramas (in voting YES),” he said.

“They (Indigenous communities) need all the help they can get so we thought sure.

“It was always going to be a no though. It really didn’t seem like it was going to pass.”

Bondi local and yes voter Sarah Jordan said she voted yes alongside the majority in her electorate because it “seemed like the right thing to do.”

“It was the right thing to do, thinking about it,” the 27 year-old said.

“The campaigns weren’t really clear.

“There’s a bit of a younger generation here, activists and outspoken people here.”

Outside of Sydney, locals in Bowraville in were disappointed by the No result but not surprised.

Margie Buchanan said she felt the referendum was not properly explained to people.

“It wasn’t explained good,” she said.

“We should have been recognised a long time ago.”

Coffs Harbour man Marty Walker voted Yes and was disappointed by the outcome.

“I was disappointed because I was always going to say Yes. Would have been good to have a few of our mob in the parliament,” he said.

“I want them (government) to focus on the future of the younger generation. I hope it’s going to be a lot better for them to be heard.”