'Yes' campaign ramps up grassroots efforts with community meetings in south-east Queensland

Jarred Cross
Jarred Cross Published August 5, 2023 at 9.30am (AWST)

The Voice to Parliament 'Yes' campaign is focusing-in on south-east Queensland this weekend with community meetings and key political appearances in the state showing the most resistance ahead of the referendum.

Recent polls from a number of institutions and outlets have identified Queensland as the strongest proponents of the 'No' vote.

As published by the ABC in June, 'No' camp spearheads Fair Australia, fronted by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, spent the most money on online advertisement in Queensland out of any state between March and June.

On Sunday, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers will join Uluru Statement architects Professor Megan Davis and Aunty Pat Anderson, local Elders and Traditional Owners for a panel discussion in Logan.

It follows a yarning circle in the town earlier that day.

Similar sessions have already been held in Cherbourg, Hervey Bay, Cooktown, Laura, Cairns, Mossman, Ingham, Tully, Innisfail and Mareeba as the campaign ramps up a grassroots movement with Queensland Aboriginal organisation-collective Mob23.

The efforts are directed towards First Nations communities in the areas they hit.

On Friday night, Mob23 hosted a small Yarning Circle at West End Croquet Club in South Brisbane.

"Most of these events are on the Beenleigh train line which I travelled a lot on during school and University," Professor Davis said.

"I went to primary and high school in the area and to university at St Lucia and I went away for two decades working on constitutional recognition."

Efforts have been made south of the border as well, with Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Narrabri, Moree, Taree, Lithgow and areas across Sydney recently receiving similar visits from Uluru Dialogue representatives.

Speaking at Garma Festival on Friday, Anthony Albanese gave no indication of a referendum date being landed on.

"I said there would be draft legislation in March and there was. I said there would be a parliamentary committee process and there was," the Prime Minister said, via The Australian.

"I said it would report in June, and then it was carried by the parliament to have a referendum.

"A referendum has to take place between two months and 33 days and six months of the Bill being passed, so that takes it to between September and December."

Mr Albanese did confirm the vote would not take place on AFL Grand Final Day - Saturday, September 30, but said consultations will need to wrap up before settling on a date.

"There has not been a referendum held this century which is why I don't think people want a date announced many months in advance and then a day-to-day campaign," he said.

"There will be a focus in the weeks leading up to people voting."

He said he will focus on speaking with people "respectfully about their view of the day" while at the festival.

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