Premier Dan Andrews has shared his confidence in Victorians ahead of the Voice referendum

Premier Dan Andrews has expressed that he has “great faith” in Victorians supporting the Voice despite declining polls for the Yes vote.

Premier Daniel Andrews has called Victorians “a good deal smarter than many people think they are” as he shared his confidence that Victoria will support the Voice to Parliament.

“I’ve got great faith in Victorians,” he began after being asked whether the No campaign is reportedly using fear and doubt and not using facts to push their position.

“Victorians are a good deal smarter than many people, perhaps on the No side, think they are,” he said.

“People can make their own rational judgments — and I’m not telling anybody how to vote in this upcoming vote, this upcoming referendum.

“I can only share with people, the reasons I’m voting Yes.

“You get better outcomes when you listen and we, we need to do something different. We need to stop doing the same thing hoping for a different outcome because the evidence is clear, like the programs we’re running at the moment are not working.”

His comments come despite a significant decline in polls for the Yes campaign.
According to the Resolve Strategic Survey, support for the Voice has sunk to 43 per cent, with the No campaign continuing to gain traction at 57 per cent.

The survey also found that Tasmania is the only state where support for the Voice hasn’t dropped, while the No campaign has just tipped over halfway at 51 per cent in Victoria.

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

“It’s safe to vote Yes, it’s smart to vote Yes,” the Premier said.

“For me, I think it’s the right thing to do as well.

“Anyone who thinks people are swayed by misinformation and outright lies, I think that underestimates the Victorian community.

“And I think that’s a very unwise thing to do.”

Radio presenter Neil Mitchell on Monday called on the Prime Minister to call the referendum off, saying it’s “the right thing to do for the country”.

“I think the Prime Minister should call it off. Today might be the last day he can do that,” he urged.

“Postpone it. It would be genuine leadership … yes it would be embarrassing, and it could even cost a quid.

“But it would be the right thing to do for the country.”

He continued, commenting that increased division could follow if the Voice doesn’t pass.

“This is my fear: if the Voice is beaten, as seems likely, there will be increased division and resentment. Some Indigenous people will never forgive it. Some of the elites will increase their attacks on the so-called racists opposing it, so we go backwards,” he said.

Australians over the age of 18 now have less than a week to enrol and update their details with the Australian Electoral Commission ahead of the referendum, which will take place on October 14.
While those who have enrolled in elections before do not need to re-enrol for the referendum, everyone’s details must be up to date by 8pm local time next Monday.