The people have spoken loudly in Wide Bay with more than 75 per cent of voters saying No to the Voice referendum, but it has not halted a growing Noosa group in their campaign for recognition and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In Noosa 63.12 per cent of people voted no in the referendum, which was above the national result of 60.69 per cent for a no-vote.
The Australian Electoral Commission opened 16 polling booths across the Noosa Shire for voting on the referendum to alter the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia, and establish a body to be called the Australian and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Of those booths, only two, at Peregian Beach Kindergarten and Sunshine Beach State School, recorded a majority Yes vote.
Across the whole Wide Bay electorate, which had 64 booths, there was only one other booth recording a Yes-vote majority and that was at Cherbourg Aboriginal community town.
Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien expressed his gratitude and respect to everyone who exercised their democratic right and voted either yes or no in the referendum.
“75.36 per cent of people voted no in Wide Bay, demonstrating that Australians overwhelmingly rejected racial division, rejected Prime Minister Albanese’s Voice proposal, and didn’t trust the Albanese Labor Government to change our Australian Constitution without providing any detail,“ he said.
“The referendum was an expensive exercise, estimated to have cost the taxpayer $450 million. At a time when all Australians are feeling the effects of a Labor Government cost of living crisis, these funds should have been directed toward policies to help all Australians doing it tough.
“I pay tribute to my Parliamentary colleagues, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Senator Kerrynne Liddle, who respectfully and truthfully articulated the insurmountable flaws with the Albanese Labor Government’s Voice proposal. I also thank the volunteers who gave of their time to work on polling booths.
“It’s now time for the Government to take real action to address disadvantage and to audit ATSI program expenditure to ensure funds are helping communities and people in need.“
Noosa for Yes campaign leader Dr Geoff Evans said their campaign continues.
“Three months ago I put my hand up to coordinate a local group of Noosa people to campaign for Yes. We had no idea what to expect. But from the moment I made those initial calls, where so many busy people agreed to step up and assist, it became clear that we were tapping into something strong in the community,“ he said.
“Since then we have had a constant flow of volunteers. We have grown into one of Queensland’s biggest and most active Yes support groups.
“It’s been humbling and inspiring to see. We have built a strong and passionate community network for recognition, reconciliation and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that will keep going.
“While we did not get the result we hoped, still we now know that there is a strong wellspring of people in this community who will work for justice and a fair go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have sustained a culture in this continent for more than 60,000 years.
“This will continue to grow regardless of the referendum outcome.
“To the Traditional Owners on whose land we live, the Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi people, I express my sorrow on behalf of all at Noosa for Yes. I am sorry that not enough of us could hear the gracious call for recognition and a Voice.
“First Nations people are saying this is not the end. The work of supporting reconciliation and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples does not end with this referendum. People of goodwill, including those in Noosa Shire, will regroup and we will continue to stand with you.
“I want to thank all the individuals, businesses and community organisation who have supported us. I hope that together we can continue to walk with First Nations peoples.“
