Newspoll: Voters split on enshrining voice in Constitution

The latest Newspoll has revealed fewer than half of eligible Australians will vote in favour of enshrining the Indigenous voice to parliament in the Constitution.

Fewer than half of eligible Australians say they will vote in favour of a referendum to enshrine a voice to parliament and executive government that would win constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islander people.

An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows only 46 per cent of voters want the Constitution altered to protect the indigenous voice as proposed by the federal government while 43 per cent of voters said they would vote no, and 11 per cent said they didn’t know.

The poll follows the passage of the voice referendum legislation through the house of representatives last week.

Noel Pearson attends the working committee for the Voice to Parliament at Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

It is the first Newspoll survey to ask voters with the same question they will be asked at the ballot box when the referendum is held this year.

The Newspoll question asked voters: “Later this year, Australians will decide at a referendum whether to alter the Australian Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

The new poll suggests that the referendum could go either way with opinion divided along the lines of gender, age, and geographical location.

Women, youth, and tertiary educated people in metropolitan areas lead the Yes vote.

Men were slightly more likely to vote No, with regional, non-university educated and the over 50s leading the No vote.

Anthony Albanese remains confident Australians will vote Yes to Indigenous voice. Picture: AFP

The Newspoll survey shows a geographic and cultural divide over the voice, with 48 per cent of regional voters opposed and 42 per cent in favour. These numbers were reversed among city voters with 48 per cent approval and 40 per cent against.

On gender lines, 47 per cent of women approved the change to the Constitution compared to 40 per cent who didn’t. Male voters were split 46/45 per cent in favour of the No vote.

Voters were divided along age lines with 65 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds in favour and 53 per cent of 35 to 49 years. But 55 per cent of 50 to 64-year-old voters opposed to the voice and 61 per cent of over-65s.

However, Anthony Albanese remains confident that the Yes campaign will win out because of Australians’ “instinct for fairness – the great Australian instinct for the fair go that defines us – remains fundamental of our identity,” the prime minister said in his Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton’s approval ratings remain unchanged in the latest Newspoll. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

However, almost a quarter of Labor voters intend to vote No, according to the poll.

The poll comes as Mr Albanese’s approval ratings dropped two points to 55 per cent while broader support for both major parties remained unchanged.

Labor leads the Coalition on a primary vote of 38 per cent to 34 per cent for the Coalition, and retains its two-party preferred lead of 55/45.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton’s approval ratings remained unchanged at 36 per cent, with Mr Albanese leading 55/28 as preferred prime minister.

Originally published as Newspoll: Voters split on enshrining voice in Constitution