Anthony Albanese lashes out when questioned about the Voice as Aussies head to the polls

Anthony Albanese has fired up at reporters on polling day when posed with one question about the Voice referendum

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has fired up 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.

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

Anthony Albanese has fired up outside a Sydney voting centre. Source: ABC.

Mr Albanese previously said Labor was committed to implementing the Uluru Statement “in full”, though a Yes vote would not automatically kickstart a treaty process.

The PM clearly wasn’t impressed at receiving this question on Saturday, accusing the media of “looking to talk about something that this referendum isn’t about”.

“Can we concentrate between now and 6pm on what people are voting for? Can we just do that?”

He claimed the question was an example of “what’s been happening” in the Voice debate, claiming people are only voting on “recognition and listening”.

“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 government. Why? Because when we listen to people directly affected, we get better outcomes.”

Those campaigning against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament have “arrogantly abandoned” their posts outside polling booths, a Melbourne-based political expert has claimed, which could see the Yes side claw back some votes.

Kos Samaras, founder of political consultancy firm Redbridge and a former key Victorian Labor strategist, made the observation on Saturday morning.

“Absence of No volunteers at polling places is stark,” he wrote on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said this was good news for the Yes campaign, who could “convert” the undecided at the 11th hour.