Kamahl reveals final Voice stance after flip-flopping on position

Kamahl found himself at the centre of controversy over his shifting stance on the Voice to Parliament. Now he explains what really happened.

Famed singer Kamahl who repeatedly flip-flopped on the Voice to Parliament throughout the campaign has revealed he wrote a “definite No” on his ballot on Saturday.

The 88-year-old made national headlines after changing from No to Yes back to No before the referendum.

The iconic singer had written on social media site X he would “vote YES” citing a meeting with Indigenous comedian Dane Simpson and constitutional lawyer Eddie Synot which saw him pledge support.

But two days later, he blindsided the hosts of The Project by announcing live on air that he would be voting No, during a bizarre interview that was labelled a “train wreck” by viewers on social media.

Kamahl has found himself at the centre of some controversy regarding his Voice stance. Picture: Channel 10

Kamahl told news.com.au he went from a “naive ‘No’, to a semi-educated ‘Yes’ and then to a well-informed ‘No’.”

He said he had spent “sleepless nights weighing the pros and cons” of the debate, admitting he didn’t even know there was a referendum until a month ago.

He described his time with the “two gentleman” (Mr Simpson and Mr Synot) from the ‘Yes’ campaign as “brainwashing”, claiming he now believed the Voice was a “smokescreen for something else” and did not address the real issues facing Indigenous Australians.

Kamahl did say, however, that he empathised with the plight of Indigenous Australians because he had “faced racism and still faces racism”.

“I was called a drongo, a dinosaur and a dickhead among other names,” he said, referencing the social reaction to his decision to vote ‘No’.

Kamahl and Sahodra separated in 2021.

Australians resoundingly rejected the Voice to Parliament, with every state registering a ‘No’ majority.

The controversy around Kamahl’s changing stance marked a rare return to the spotlight for the singer in recent years.

In 2021, he generated headlines after revealing to New Idea that he and his wife of 55 years, Sahodra, had separated months earlier.

After sharing the heartbreaking update, he appeared on A Current Affair and opened up further about the break-up, blaming himself and his addiction to social media.

“I was isolated with my computer,” he said, revealing he was spending up to five hours a day scrolling social media.

Anthony Albanese and Linda Linda Burney at a press conference after the Voice was defeated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I think she was sick and tired, I’m consumed with politics. I’m tweeting from morning to night … I’m paying a terrible price for it.”

Kamahl, who said his musical inspiration came from being “an incurable romantic”, also told the program that he had gifts waiting for his former wife, but was unsure if she’d want them.

“She might throw it back at me, but I’m going to give it to her anyway,” he said.

“She really is the wind beneath my wings. I now realise I probably wasn’t the most attentive husband.

“Fame can do that – it can distract you from what really matters. But I’m keeping everything crossed we can work through this rough patch, as she really is my everything.

“At the end of the day, I am the sinner. She is the saint.”

- with Bronte Coy

Originally published as Kamahl reveals final Voice stance after flip-flopping on position