Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continued his country-wide tour to promote a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming Referendum, which focuses on recognising First Nations people in the Australian Constitution. This week, Adelaide witnessed another visit from the Prime Minister, having only just been in the city last week as well, underlining the significance of the campaign and the weight of the issue at hand.
This week, Albanese made a live in-studio appearance on Mix102.3’s The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show, where a critical topic of discussion during the show was the impending Referendum. Host Ali Clarke probed the Prime Minister on his dedication and drive towards the Referendum, and in response, Albanese emphasised the historical nature of the issue and the importance of honouring the commitments made by previous governments.
‘It’s always difficult to change the Constitution, but Indigenous Australians have asked for this’, Albanese began, referencing the long journey that led to the Uluru statement in 2017. He highlighted that past leaders, including John Howard, had promised a Referendum on the matter, however, despite such assurances, the 21st century has yet to witness such an event.
‘So for those people…who have been campaigning for this for year, after year, after year, eventually you had to give the Australian people a say, and that’s what we’re doing’, he added.
The Prime Minister elucidated on the core request being presented to Australians through the Referendum, describing it as a ‘simple, gracious request’, with Albanese laying out the two primary objectives.
The first is the acknowledgment of the First Nations people in Australia’s foundational document. The second is the establishment of a non-binding advisory committee that would provide guidance on matters pertinent to them. He reiterated that the latter is simply a matter of ‘common courtesy.’
Prime Minister Albanese’s appearances and strong advocacy suggest that the Referendum holds immense importance for the current government, and given the gravity of the issue, it is imperative for Australians to be well-informed and engaged in the process.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the fear campaign that is clearly evident in this Referendum has been seen before with the vote for marriage equality and with the apology to stolen generations, yet he believes that there is only something to gain if Australians vote yes in the upcoming weeks and that it will bring the country together.
The upcoming weeks leading to the Referendum are expected to be filled with more discussions, debates, and awareness campaigns, ensuring the nation makes an informed decision that could shape the course of Australian history.
For more info on the YES campaign, click here.
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