Anthony Albanese has emphatically declared Australians will vote Yes to the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament in a secret audio recording.
In comments that indicate his confidence in the Yes campaign, the Prime Minister reportedly made his bold prediction while addressing Labor’s Socialist Left leadership during a dinner in Brisbane last Thursday.
‘I firmly believe that not only can we, we will seize the opportunity and vote Yes,’ he told his audience in a recording of his remarks obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald.
While he no longer attends factional meetings since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Albanese has vowed to stay true to his Labor Left roots.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong was heard on the recording saying she lamented racist overtones in criticism of the Voice, particularly in the Senate.
Anthony Albanese has held firm in his belief Australians will vote Yes to the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament when the referendum is held
A covert recording reportedly caught the PM speaking at a dinner during the Labor national conference in Brisbane last Thursday
‘We’ve seen some of the racism and the aggro. We sit in the Senate, and we listen to [shadow attorney-general] Michaelia Cash,’ she said in the recording which was made by an attendee of the dinner, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I have to turn around sometimes and look at Katy [Gallagher] and Murray [Watt] because I’m so angry.’
The PM has never publicly wavered in his belief the Voice will succeed, despite poor polling results and pleas for the referendum to be called off or postponed.
A government source told Daily Mail Australia the leaked audio only further reinforced the Prime MInister’s commitment to the proposed Voice.
‘Australians can be confident that what the Prime Minister advocates privately is what he does publicly,’ the insider said.
‘He believes in Australians and working towards a better future.’
Mr Albanese was asked on radio on Tuesday morning whether he had any regrets about the handling of the campaign leading to the referendum, and if there was anything he would change if he had his time over.
‘Absolutely nothing in terms of, I’m committed to it. This is a matter of conviction, it’s not a matter of convenience,’ he said.
Mr Albanese acknowledged he has no way of controlling ‘some of the misinformation that is out there’, but that he doesn’t think it will change the results on polling day.
Mr Albanese acknowledged he has no way of controlling ‘some of the misinformation that is out there’, but that he doesn’t think it will change the results on polling day
‘I am very confident… about the opportunity that we have going forward to actually do the right thing and to take up the invitation of Indigenous Australians.
‘It’s pretty simple, really, when you remove all the noise, it’s simply recognition and having an advisory body so we can listen to Indigenous Australians and get better results.’
Speaking at an event in Sydney to promote the Yes effort later on Tuesday, Mr Albanese criticised the No campaign for muddying the waters surrounding what he described as a ‘very clear’ question.
‘They want all these distractions. People should read what the question is to recognise First Nations people through a Voice,’ he said.
‘The clauses which are there are legally sound, they will not interfere with the way that the government operates on a day-to-day basis. Our Parliament will still be in total control of its destiny.’
The PM joined former Liberal MP Pat Farmer as his ‘Run for the Voice’ reached Sydney’s Opera House
Mr Albanese said Australians should be having conversations with their families and friends to build support for the Voice, joining Mr Farmer for a small portion of the run, surrounded by Yes campaigners
The Prime Minister joined former Liberal MP Pat Farmer as his ‘Run for the Voice’ awareness-raising effort reached Sydney’s Opera House.
He is running almost 15,000km to support the referendum.
Mr Albanese said Australians should be having conversations with their families and friends to build support for the Voice, joining Mr Farmer for a small portion of the run, surrounded by Yes campaigners.
‘To all those who are thinking, “Will I spend an extra Sunday knocking on doors?” It’s got to be easier than running 14,000 kilometres,’ he said.
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