Minister for Indigenous Australians and Barton MP, Linda Burney said although saddened by the outcome “achieving progress is never easy”, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to continue the Federal Government’s push to “do better for the First Australians”.
“It is not the end of the road and is certainly not the end of our efforts to bring people together,” he said.
VOTERS have handed the Federal Government a resounding ’No’ to its Voice to Parliament with the four local Federal electorates rejecting the proposal at last Saturday’s referendum.
With just over 60 per cent of voters across the country rejecting the proposal, the ’No’ vote was stronger in the electorates of Banks (61 per cent) and Blaxland (62 per cent), while the result was closer in Barton (56 per cent) and Watson (58 per cent).
Senator Jacinta Price and ‘No’ campaigner said “going forward there is a lot of work to be done and a lot of work to ensure we stay together as a country”.
“Now, let’s work together for a better tomorrow,” she said.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said he was disappointed with the outcome, but the community had clearly made their choice.
“One of the great things about living in this country is the democratic freedom people have,” he said.
“We had a chance to create history but fell short of what was required.
“While it’s time to move on from the vote, we must continue to voice our support for better outcomes in health, education and social housing for all Aboriginal people.”
Education Minister and Blaxland MP Jason Clare said that while Australians voted no to the Voice, they did not say no to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
“There are things we are doing right now in our education system that will make a difference,” he said.
“But there is more to do, and all sides of politics need to work together and find new ways to close the gap.”
A spokesperson for the Yes23 campaign said although deeply saddened by the result, they would continue the fight to make sure First Nations people were recognised, respected and listened to.
Vote No to Voice
THE majority of voters across the Federal electorates of Banks, Barton, Blaxland and Watson, have rejected the ‘Voice to Parliament’, joining a resounding ‘No’ at last Saturday’s referendum.
