Indigenous voice to parliament campaigner Mark Textor blasts ‘No wrecker’ in referendum Facebook post

Opponents of an Indigenous voice have accused long-time Liberal Party strategist Mark Textor of alienating voters after he declared there was ‘no electoral benefit in being a No wrecker’.

Yes23 director and long-time Liberal Party strategist Mark Textor. Picture: AAP

Opponents of an Indigenous voice to parliament have accused Yes23 director and long-time Liberal Party strategist Mark Textor of alienating voters and “bitterness”, after he declared there was “no electoral benefit in being a No wrecker”.

Following the latest Newspoll published by The Australian, which showed support for the voice falling to 36 per cent and Peter Dutton’s approval ratings at record lows, Mr Textor said on Facebook: “So poll murder-suicide confirmed. No electoral benefit in being a “no” wrecker, worse it’s just sure death. As I predicted.”

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said the comment was “of course” in reference to the Opposition Leader, who along with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine are the leading No campaigners.

“It is so typical of some in the senior strategy of the so-called Yes campaign. Apparently if you don’t agree, you need to be punished,” Mr Joyce said.

“I know little about lots but lots about politics and I said at the start this (the voice referendum) was ‘going to hit the deck’ and I reckon I am still on the money and Mark is helpful; to people voting No.”

The No campaign also seized on Mr Textor’s late-night Sunday post, saying if Australians disagreed with the referendum they were labelled “a wrecker, a racist, stupid or all three” by those who oppose their views.

Indigenous leader Marcia Langton caused controversy earlier this month when it was revealed she had accused the No campaign of racism and stupidity.

“The attitude of Mr Textor is extremely disappointing but speaks to a bitterness and frankly a resentment that seems to have spread through the Yes campaign like a virus,” a No campaign spokesman said.

“You would think a strategist of his reputation would understand that alienating people with this type of divisive language probably costs you votes.”

Yes23 and Mr Textor, who is co-founder of CT Group, were approached for comment.

Mr Textor last week sided with fellow Liberal and Yes23 director Tony Nutt after he hit out at “bunkum” being pushed by the No campaign to persuade Australians to vote against the referendum proposal.

The Yes camp on Monday acknowledged it was well behind but has not given up hope it can turn the campaign around if it picks up undecided voters.

Despite polls showing a downwards trend in support for the voice, it was sticking to the course that had so far yielded the best results: engaging voters in one-on-one conversation about what the referendum question asked and what the proposed amendment was.

It has only just started to roll out its war chest of advertising, which it has deliberately held back over the past month because it believed people were not yet engaged.

Yes23 director Michael Chaney said last week that up to 35 per cent of voters were either undecided or had not yet turned their attention to the referendum but Yes volunteers were finding that once they spoke to voters about what the referendum question was, they often considered it a reasonable request.