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%.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 4 points 1 year ago

It's such a difficult task to argue for change when people are predisposed to supporting the status quo, particularly when your opponents can just spread as many lies as they want without sanction or even the need to publicly acknowledge their wrongdoings. It's a very different situation to, say, the same-sex marriage plebiscite where there was a much higher chance that a voter actually knew something about the issue and the people whose rights they were voting to support or suppress. I'd guess that even the average Yes voter would be woefully uneducated on the history of Australia and not really understand what they were voting for or why it was important.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Behold the liberal party base.

[–] NorthofReality@aussie.zone 5 points 1 year ago

What a sad looking bunch. There's no one there who isn't a crusty old white person.

[–] Nonameuser678@aussie.zone 1 points 1 year ago

Caption this photo.

[–] kerr@aussie.zone 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Minarble@aussie.zone 3 points 1 year ago

Did that audience applaud because they thought he was acknowledging them? Or is that much self awareness eternally beyond them.

What a miserable bunch.

[–] trk@aussie.zone 7 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

They are old, grumpy and white. The only person in that photo under 70 was senator Price wearing the "no" T-shirt.