Unions will campaign for an Indigenous voice to parliament online and in workplaces

Trade unions members are being urged to actively campaign on social media and in universities and workplaces for a voice to parliament.

The trade union movement is rallying behind the voice, with various workshops, stalls on university campuses and online campaigns. Pictured is ACTU secretary Sally McManus. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Trade unions – including the union of Indigenous land rights activist Eddie Mabo - are vowing to mobilise their members and actively campaign for a voice to parliament across social media, workplaces, universities and neighbourhoods, amid falling support for the advisory body.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union, the Electrical Trades Union, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association and the Transport Workers Union told The Australian they were invested in the campaign and members were being encouraged to engage and advocate during the referendum.

As the Yes camp faces increasing calls from voice supporters to ramp up their operations, National Union of Students president Bailey Riley said student organisations were concerned by polling showing the No vote was ahead and lashed Labor for “dropping the ball” on the reform.

The latest Newspoll, conducted exclusively for The Australian, revealed the referendum would fail if a vote was held next weekend.

“We think the Yes campaign has not done its duty yet and not really kicked off. We think the Labor Party has dropped the ball at the moment. They want this referendum but they don’t seem to be out there supporting it,” Ms Riley said.

“Student organisations are concerned about the polling as well and are thinking ‘why has this not started yet?’ We were going to wait for the Yes campaign to lead the way but at this point in time we’re going to start ourselves and start the campaign from the student perspective.”

The NUS, which represents around one million domestic tertiary education students, is planning weekly stalls run by every student union around the country from the start of semester two in late July or early August and then multiple stalls per week in the six weeks leading up to polling day.

The referendum will be held between October and December, with the most likely date in mid-October.

RTBU national secretary Mark Diamond, representing around 35,000 workers, said the union was talking to members though internal publications and social media, but the movement more broadly had a “huge network” willing to advocate for the voice.

Mr Mabo was a railway workers union member and delegate in Queensland.

“The RTBU, as the union of Eddie Mabo, is proud of its role in advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples. Our national executive has resolved to support the voice, and we intend to play an active role in the referendum campaign,” Mr Diamond said.

“We are encouraging our members to have conversations with their friends, families and colleagues. For example, we have an article on the referendum written by one of our First Nations members that will feature prominently in the next edition of national member magazine.”

The ETU was developing and distributing online and video resources for its more than 60,000 members as a “strong supporter” of the voice, explaining it would “recognise the special place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian history and society”.

“Consultation is a basic principle of democracy and we will campaign stridently for the Yes campaign both among our own membership and in support of the broader trade union campaign,” ETU acting national secretary Michael Wright said.

The TWU was running workshops for its members and said the voice would help build “stronger, fairer communities”.

Peter Dutton on Tuesday attempted to turn the July 15 Fadden by-election in Queensland, which was triggered by the retirement of former Liberal National Party MP Stuart Robert, into a referendum on the voice.

“It’s an opportunity to send the government a message in relation to cost of living, that you’re not happy with the policies that they’ve presided over, and also on the voice, I think there will be a lot of people in Fadden who want to send the Prime Minister a very clear message that they’re not happy with his Canberra voice proposal,” the Opposition Leader said.

“They’re not happy that he’s continuing to keep details from Australians in relation to how the voice will operate.”

Leading Liberal moderate Simon Birmingham, who won’t be campaigning during the referendum and has declined to say how he’ll vote in the ballot box, said he was conflicted on the voice and warned the country had been put in a “very difficult situation”.

Health Minister Mark Butler said a new approach through a voice was needed in his portfolio more than any other policy area he could think of, so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could have longer, healthier and happier lives.