Anthony Albanese says $364 million Voice to Parliament referendum ‘worth it’ even if it fails

The Prime Minister has declared that the $364 million cost of the Voice to Parliament referendum will be “worth it” - even if the proposal is rejected by voters.

Anthony Albanese has declared that the $364 million cost of the referendum will be “worth it” even if the proposal for change is rejected by voters.

As polls continue to suggest that the Yes vote is losing ground, the Prime Minister has insisted that pressing ahead with the referendum will have been worth it win or lose.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has repeatedly urged Mr Albanese to alter the proposal or delay it because the current model does not have bipartisan support.

But Mr Albanese has told a new podcast that while it would be “disappointing” if the proposal fails it will still be worth it and he did not agree it should be delayed.

“I mean I’ve had that put to me by some commentators – none of them are Indigenous,” the prime minister said.

“If you don’t run on the field, you can’t make change, you can’t succeed.

“You have to have the courage of your convictions, to be prepared to put forward the argument and give the Australian people the opportunity to vote in the referendum.”

Anthony Albanese has declared that the $364 million cost of the referendum will be “worth it” even if the proposal for change is rejected. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Mr Albanese told The Guardian blog that the process itself was “positive” even if the proposal fails.

“That process in itself is something that I believe is positive; the fact that we’re talking about Indigenous disadvantage not on the fringes [of the national conversation] but on the front pages of newspapers,’’ he said.

“At the same time Australians are talking like never before about the gap that’s there in life expectancy, about the fact that an Indigenous young male has a greater chance of going to jail than university, about health issues and about housing, and about listening.

“For a long period of time, it wasn’t front and centre of issues.”

Budget papers reveal the federal government has allocated $364.6 million to help deliver the referendum on whether to recognise the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution and establish the Voice, which will advise parliament.

The funding includes $336.6 million to be provided over two years to the Australian Electoral Commission to deliver the referendum.

Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo has been one of the driving campaigners for the Yes campaign. Picture: Brendan Radke

Prominent Yes supporter Noel Pearson told the National Press Club today that if the Yes vote fails Australia will continue to live in a “neverland that exists when two peoples love the same homeland, but have not yet learned to love each other.”

“There is no peace dividend if we vote No. There is only the continued acrimony of endless debate,’’ he said.

“The harsh penalty of division, which will be paid in shame and mutual suspicion. It is only by voting Yes that we choose a responsible middle path for our national story. A story that accords Indigenous Australians a rightful place in our own country. If we choose this middle path and complete the journey to a new settlement, the peace dividend of cultural exchange will be paid in full.

“We, the Australian people, are good people. At our best, we can be a beacon of light to the world.”

“There is no peace dividend if we vote No,” Noel Perarson told the National Press Club. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Sky News host Andrew Bolt has declared the Voice to Parliament referendum over after recent polling showed support dropped to a “new low” at 36 per cent.

“What a disaster … in less than one year the ‘Yes’ campaign has lost almost half the huge support it had last year,” Mr Bolt said.

“How could it have all gone so bad for the Yes23 campaign when it had the support of most of Australia’s big business, massive donations of cash and kind, the support of Australia’s top sporting codes as well, and universities … and so many celebrities – how could they now lose?”

“Who thought Australians would actually go for that? All for that patronizing elitist movement so out of touch,” he said.

“Dividing Australians by race just stinks – it’s racist.”