Tearful Anthony Albanese admits defeat in the Voice referendum

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered an emotional speech declaring he “gave my word” to Indigenous Australians to hold the referendum.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered an emotional speech declaring he “gave my word” to Indigenous Australians to hold the referendum, win or lose.

Red-eyed and clearly rocked by the result, Mr Albanese said he never imagined it would be easy but conceded he was disappointed by the result.

The No camp had the vote tied up by 7.25pm, with decisive victories being won in all major states.

“My fellow Australians, at the outset, I want to say that while tonight’s result is not one that I had hoped for, I absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people,’’ he said.

“And I say to the millions of Australians, all over our great country that voted yes with hope and goodwill.

Mr Albanese said the result did not define Australia.

“And it will not divide us,’’ he said.

“We are not yes voters or no voters. We are all Australian. We must take our country beyond this debate, without forgetting while we had it in the first place.”

Anthony Albanese emotionally addresses Australia. Picture: ABC

Mr Albanese said he always knew securing victory would “not be easy”.

“Nor could I guarantee the referendum would succeed. History told us that only eight out of 44 had done so,’’ he said.

“What I could promise was that we would go all in and that we would try.

“And we have given Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the fulfilment of their request.

“We argued that this change, not out of convenience, but from conviction. I believe it was the right thing to do.”

Choking back tears, he also recalled his emotional meeting at Uluru earlier this week, when he was welcomed by the traditional custodians.

Asked why the No vote won, Mr Albanese appeared to lay the blame at the feet of the Liberal Party.

“The analysis will go on for some time. me, no doubt. But the truth is that no referendum has succeeded without bipartisan support in this country,’’ he said.

Linda Burney was clearly emotional during her speech. Source: ABC.

During the press conference, Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney openly wept as she urged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people not to be defeated by the result.

“I know the last few months have been rough,’’ she said.

“Be proud of the 65,000 years of history and culture. We will carry on and we’ll move forward. This is not the end of reconciliation.”

Ms Burney said in the months ahead the Albanese Government would have more to say about new commitments.

“Because we all agree we need better outcomes for First Nations people.”

Mr Albanese’s speech comes after Nationals leader David Littleproud declared the PM would be to blame if the referendum failed.

Accusing the Prime Minister of “hubris” the recriminations started before the polls closed at 6pm AEST.

“He let it get away from him and he didn’t bring the parties with him and he was warned not to divide our country,” he said.

“He is the one who has taken this to the people, he runs the parliament, he runs the country and this sits squarely at his feet.”

Anthony Albanese in Uluru this week, where he was overcome with emotion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

Mr Albanese ended the campaign for the Yes vote today insisting he had done “all I can”.

Evoking the legacy of civil rights activist Martin Luther King, the Prime Minister called on Australians to “unite” behind the Voice and be on the “right side of history”.

“We must do better. We can do better,” he said.

“This is not a radical proposition. This is a hand of outstretched friendship from the First Australians to every Australian, just asking for it to be grasped in that spirit of reconciliation and friendship.”

But Mr Albanese turned cranky during a press conference, lashing out at “the media” after being asked a question about the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“You made a promise to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart. If this referendum fails will you push ahead with other elements of that?” a reporter asked.

The 2017 Uluru Statement is the document that informed the decision to have a referendum on creating an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Anthony Albanese visits Balmain Public School polling booth with partner Jodie Hayden. Picture NCA NewsWire / Seb Haggett

The document also flagged the importance of truth-telling about Australia’s history and a process for a treaty with First Nations Australians following the Voice.

“Can we concentrate between now and 6pm on what people are voting for? Can we just do that?,’’ he said.

“What this is about is constitutional recognition and a non-binding advisory committee that won’t have any power except for the power of its ideas. A capacity to talk to the government. Why? Because when we listen to people directly affected, we get better outcomes.”

In his election victory speech, Mr Albanese committed his government to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.

Anthony Albanese with Pat Farmer as he finished his run around the country to raise awareness about the Yes campaign in Uluru. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

“I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. And on behalf of the Australian Labor Party, I commit to the Uluru Statement from the heart in full,’’ he said.

An emotional Mr Albanese also wept this week at Uluru when he sat with leaders from central Australia.

During the ceremony, Anangu women performed a dance they created using big digging sticks which the prime minister later said symbolised carrying the burden of the referendum.

“The sticks represented the burden of the yes campaign, the burden of feeling the weight of history which is upon us. [We have] the opportunity to lift that burden of history,” he said.