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Australia PM Anthony Albanese ‘optimistic’ on indigenous people referendum, won’t push issue through law if rejected
- PM Anthony Albanese’s comment comes as most polls show Australians will vote ‘No’ at the October 14 poll
- The Liberal Party describes the referendum as a ‘lose-lose’ situation, and ‘ divisive’ for Australians
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Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is optimistic the country will vote in favour of changing the nation’s constitution to recognise indigenous people, but will not move to push the issue through legislation if the government’s proposal is rejected.
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Campaigning for the referendum has become increasingly divisive in recent weeks. The proposal, known as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, would include an indigenous advisory body to parliament in the constitution.
Major polls show Australians will vote “No” at the October 14 poll, although a rare rise was recorded last week. Some of them show about 60 per cent of Australians are against the Voice to Parliament, versus 40 per cent in support, a near reversal of the situation a year ago.
“I’m optimistic,” Albanese said in an interview with ABC Television on Sunday. “What I see on the ground, whether it’s in Wangaratta or whether it be Shepparton or Sydney, or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places I’ve been – Hobart, Adelaide – in the last week have been extremely positive. The feedback is that when people have those conversations, they are willing to vote “Yes”.”
The debate has stirred uncertainty about the reform’s scope and impact and has also stoked racial tensions.
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“This should be above politics,” Albanese said, as he embarked on a nationwide sprint that will take him through major cities, outback mining towns, and remote Aboriginal settlements.
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