Yes23 director Dean Parkin optimistic of Yes vote at October 14 ballot box despite negative polling

The director of an Indigenous Voice yes campaign has dismissed the chances of negative outcomes for Far North Queenslanders if the proposal succeeds at the ballot box on October 14.

The leader of the Indigenous Voice yes campaign has dismissed any possibility of negative consequences to non-Indigenous people as a result of a potential Voice to Parliament.

Dean Parkin, the director of Yes23, said a 37,000-strong volunteer army had already knocked on 150,000 doors across the nation; he’s confident Australia will vote for change on October 14.

“Australians will ultimately say ‘we can’t just keep doing the same thing, let’s give this a chance’,” Mr Parkin said.

“It’s going to be tough, we’re under no illusions about that. But it’s worth fighting for.

“The idea of us settling for what we have now … I think most people won’t think that is a good outcome for our country.”

National director for the Yes23 campaign Dean Parkin is confident of success at the ballot box on October 14. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Yes campaign is targeting undecided voters in the lead up to October 14.

But recent polling has shown the falling percentage of undecided votes has coincided with a dive in support for the Voice.

Mr Parkin said grassroots campaigning had given him confidence that polling numbers only told part of the story.

“We think there is a larger cohort of people … who are not only undecided but also unaware,” he said.

“I’m not dismissing the fact the numbers have tightened, but I do think at this stage … there is a group of people there who have not put their minds to this.

“With our messaging … they’re absolutely persuadable.”

Yes campaign director Dean Parkin dismissed the idea of negative outcomes for Far North Queensland residents if the Voice was successful. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Parkin and other Yes campaigners said the Voice would be a revolutionary and solid means to reverse negative outcomes – such as incarceration, unemployment and rising homelessness – in Far North’s Indigenous communities.

He said policy advice provided to government from current Indigenous departments had been ineffective due to a lack of accountability.

“(Those departments) are not answerable to Indigenous people, they’re answerable to the respective ministers,” he said.

“We’ve seen far too often … that hasn’t worked. What we’ve been missing is the direct line of accountability to the people on the ground.

Yes23 campaign co-ordinator for FNQ Stacee Ketchell said a Voice to Parliament would be a solid way to reverse negative outcomes in Indigenous communities. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Representatives of Indigenous communities sitting at the (policy making) table is a big difference.

“Governments and departments will retain decision making power, as they should, but they’ll do so with advice coming directly from communities about what needs to change.”

The No campaign has harried the Voice idea with many accusations, including the suggestion the proposal lacks sufficient detail to be a safe decision for Australians.

Mr Parkin said misinformation rattled off by the No campaign had damaged the true nature of the proposal.

“We’re talking about a committee. This is a body made up of Indigenous people advising parliament about issues that affect our communities,” he said.

“When you actually have the opportunity to explain this, we find the challenge is not that people don’t understand but they’ve been given (a different) idea about what the Voice is.

“That misinformation has been damaging, because it’s given some people the idea that this will have a bunch of negative consequences for their lives. It won’t.”

Originally published as Yes23 director Dean Parkin optimistic of Yes vote at October 14 ballot box despite negative polling