Australian Politics

Behold the liberal party base.

While I'm a strong supporter of the Voice, I fear it's going to be defeated. I've spoken to a number of people around me and there's genuine confusion around whether it's something indigenous Australians want. While the statistics show 80-90% support amongst indigenous Australians for the Voice, when the Coalition trots out Price and Mundine, the public sees a sizable dissenting indigenous faction. Those I've spoken to are unsure if they should vote yes solely on the basis that they aren't sure if indigenous Australians want it, and that's from my more progressive mates.

Labor has and is botching this campaign in a major way. Their near silence and passive approach to this campaign is failing and it's shifting normally supportive people into undecideds, let along flipping the undecided voters.

Either Labor and the Greens lift their game fast or this referendum is dead. Polling is suggesting that support has already dipped below 50%.

Here’s a quote from the “comedian” who spoke at the conference.

“I’d like to acknowledge the traditional rent-seekers, past, present and emerging,” Marks said, to applause from the crowd. “But seriously, I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners – violent black men. I hope there are some real feminists in the audience who appreciate the part-truth of that joke.”

The No side can argue they’re doing because of the constitutional change or underperformance of the changes, but when you invite someone who speaks like that, it’s plain to see the why.

The Liberal senator said unlike the state's contentious Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation — which could be, and has been, repealed — a change to the constitution was permanent.

"You can't simply roll back a bad amendment such as the Voice to Parliament," she said.

The critical part, in my opinion.

For me this is actually a good thing - when Labor inevitably loses the next election, the Liberals can't immediately remove any progress they made.

Is 1000 people a lot? I wouldn’t have thought so if this is a campaign rally. Seems like not much to the story either way.