Wealth in play where we voted Yes in Geelong as region reacts to comprehensive defeat of The Voice referendum

It has become increasingly clear that a person’s wealth had an impact on how they voted in the weekend’s Voice referendum.

Voters have their say in The Voice referendum at a Clifton Springs polling booth. Photo: Alan Barber.

Coastal communities across the region and the inner southern suburbs of Geelong were strong in their support of The Voice referendum, reflecting a national trend that saw more affluent areas vote Yes.

Around two in five of the almost 90 booths in the Labor-held electorates of Corangamite and Corio returned a Yes majority, with support strongest in Bellbrae, Ocean Grove, Torquay, Point Lonsdale, Barwon Heads and Queenscliff.

Torquay and Ocean Grove recorded Yes majorities in the mid-60 per cent range, while 75 per cent of the 682 people who voted in Bellbrae supported the proposal to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the constitution.

Booths in Highton, Newtown, Belmont and Geelong West also recorded comprehensive Yes majorities.

Conversely, Geelong’s northern suburbs, including Corio, Norlane and Bell Park, voted a resounding No, as did the townships of Anakie, Bannockburn and Inverleigh.

Deakin University politics lecturer Geoff Robinson said the figures mirrored a national trend that saw more affluent areas with a high level of education more likely to vote Yes.

“The distribution of the vote was pretty much as I expected,” he said.

“It’s that pattern of a more highly educated workforce, probably a larger portion employed in the ‘caring and sharing’ public sector professions like health and education as well, I suspect.”

Overall, a majority in Corangamite and Corio voted No, with results of 52.5 per cent and 54.9 per cent respectively.

Both came in under the Victorian and national No vote of 55 per cent and 60.6 per cent respectively.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Senator Sarah Henderson were key figures in the No campaign. Photo: Martin Ollman.

Progressive inner city electorates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane were the most likely to vote Yes, including those held by “teal” MPs.

These included Josh Frydenberg’s former seat of Kooyong and the nearby Goldstein.

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative held a “community yarn” on Sunday to reflect on the referendum result.

“Aboriginal people have been fighting for many years for rights, recognition and more – a No result doesn’t stop our fight,” it said.

“We came together for this cause, with our own mob, with other mobs, and with allies and local government, to build our campaign and spread the message of Yes.

“We want to grow that bond and develop our strength as we continue to walk together in friendship and shared purpose.”

Geelong council issued a statement that said the result won’t deter its efforts to improve outcomes for Indigenous people in the region.

“We will continue to listen to and elevate First Nations voices and take action towards recognition and reconciliation,” it said.

Deputy mayor Anthony Aitken, whose Windermere ward takes in the northern suburbs, issued “genuine hugs to all our First Nation People”.

“May yarning circles now continue in Geelong as a legacy to build respect and share knowledge about the world’s oldest continuous living culture,” he said.

Senator Sarah Henderson, a staunch opponent of The Voice, said federal Labor was preoccupied with “activists, inner-city elites and big corporations” during the referendum campaign.

“Labor’s Voice was all about dividing our country, not uniting us as one Australia, and regional and outer-suburban Victorians voted against changing our constitution in droves,” she said.

Originally published as Wealth in play where we voted Yes in Geelong as region reacts to comprehensive defeat of The Voice referendum