With the Indigenous Voice referendum less than a month away, lobbyists for both the No and Yes campaigns have been out in force.
In Benalla, both groups had a stall at recent lakeside markets, and both have been in Bridge St at various times talking to passers-by.
The Ensign spoke to the Benalla for Yes group at a previous market and on Saturday, talked to those supporting a No vote.
Regular Ensign letter writer Andy Wozniczka organised the stall and said the group was there primarily to provide information.
“We’re not here to try and force anyone to vote No,” Mr Wozniczka said.
“We want to furnish people with information they ask about because the Federal Government says they want a Yes vote but haven’t said what will happen after the Yes vote.
Referendum question
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
i. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
ii. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
iii. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
“When Anthony Albanese said he’ll adopt the Uluru statement in full, that worries a lot of people.
“So what we want to do is try and educate people just to research better and to do their own study and to see what they find.”
Some No vote supporters have said they have an issue around cost, stating that the referendum should have been run in conjunction with the federal election to avoid extra spending.
Mr Wozniczka, however, said that was not the focus of the Benalla group’s objections to the Voice.
He said at the moment, he didn’t think there was enough information available to convince people to vote Yes.
“My message to Benalla people is to study the authors of the Uluru statement and the Voice handbook,“ he said.
“Look at their backgrounds, look at what the government said, and then vote accordingly according to how you think.”
The referendum will be held on October 14. For more information, visit www.aec.gov.au/referendums/