RESIDENTS across Ipswich turned strongly against the Labor’s Party’s push for them to vote Yes in the Voice Referendum on the weekend.
The Federal seat of Blair saw almost seven out of every 10 voters write NO on the ballot forms, while in Oxley, the other Federal electorate that covers this region, the vote went 60.24% for No.
For most it was difficult to find a voting place and when they did, they were confronted with long queues.
Despite every piece of feedback prior to the vote saying Australians would say “No”, PM Anthony Albanese ploughed on with the vote burning up $450m in the process, enough to build a new hospital.
Amongst a landslide of critical feedback after the referendum was a stinging rebuke from outspoken Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe.
She denounced the decision to hold the referendum as a “waste of money” and a bad idea, claiming people are “literally killing themselves” because of it.
Senator Thorpe had consistently argued that a treaty and truth-telling must come before any change to the Constitution.
“Our people are hurting already. That’s why we didn’t need this referendum,” she told ABC TV during the coverage on Referendum night.
“We need a truth and justice commission like they have in South Africa. We need to heal and unite this country, not (have) a referendum of yes or no.”
“I said it was a waste of money.
“And I also said it would divide our people. So here we are, down the track, 12 months later and you know, wasted money and no result – and there’s basically no justice either way.”
HOW YOU VOTED:
BLAIR: NO 69.83% YES 30.17%
OXLEY: NO 60.24% YES 39.76%
