As Australians gear up to vote in the referendum on October 14, Ernesto has some observations he would like to share.
I am disappointed in the stance taken by Peter Dutton’s Liberals and their mates in the National Party to oppose the recognition of our First Nations people in the Constitution by means of the proposed Voice to Parliament.
These parties said No before any detail was released, thus deliberately dealing themselves out of any meaningful dialogue or discussion on the proposed referendum.
If Mr Dutton and his party engaged with the ALP on the Uluru Statement process (that the Coalition started years ago) and supported the Voice, the premise that the Voice would divide Australia would not have come about.
Ernesto has looked at who is in favour of a Yes vote and who is in favour of a No vote and would like to share a few names with you.
The question you need to ask yourself is, “Which side of history do you want to be on?”
Prominent Yes supporters
Uniting Church
National Council of Churches
120 health organisations
Most companies in the ASX top 20
Tim Costello
Malcolm Turnbull (ex-Prime Minister)
Paul Keating (ex-prime minister)
Michael Kirby
Peter Garrett
Jimmy Barnes
Paul Kelly
Missy Higgins
John Farnham
Julie Bishop
Ray Martin
Craig Foster
Eddie Betts
John Hewson
Ken Wyatt (ex-minister for Indigenous Australians)
Julian Leeser
The list goes on and on.
Prominent No supporters
Andrew Bolt
Blair Cottrell (former leader of the far-right United Patriots Front)
Peta Credlin
Tony Abbott (ex-prime minister)
Clive Palmer
Pauline Hanson
Cory Bernardi
Bob Katter
John Howard (ex-prime minister)
Michaelia Cash
Scott Morrison (ex-prime minister)
Jeff Kennett
Warren Mundine
Ralph Babet (United Australia Party)
Gina Rinehart
Lyle Shelton
As far as Ernesto is aware, none of the top 20 ASX companies are supporting the No vote, although a few claim they are “neutral”.
So there you have a snapshot of who is supporting each side.
With which group of people do you feel most comfortable?
Finally, Ernesto would like to throw this idea at you.
Australia’s international reputation suffered a great deal under the previous Coalition Government (climate, Pacific neighbours, refugees, French submarines, etc).
Although the current government has managed to mend a few fences, it still has a long way to go.
A No vote could make it difficult for the government to credibly influence Indigenous and human rights issues, especially in dealing with our neighbours in the Pacific.
Australians cannot afford to wake up after the referendum and say, “What on earth have we done?”
By then, it will be too late, and we will be enduring our own “Brexit moment”.
Vote Yes.