Pom in Oz with Derek Goforth: Reasons to vote No to Voice referendum lay in failures of Yes campaign

As someone who cares deeply about the wellbeing of Indigenous communities, I can’t help but feel a sense of sympathy for the failed Voice to Parliament supporters. The referendum aimed to address vital Indigenous issues, but it ultimately crumbled under the weight of various pitfalls. The idea was not fundamentally flawed; rather, the failures lay in how it was perceived and communicated to the public. Now in the aftermath, my social media page is full of accusations of racism. While I have no doubt that racism is alive and well in our country, and this would have influenced a minority of voters, I do not believe more than 60 per cent of us nationally or 70 per cent plus in and around Geraldton are racist or voted with a racist reason. I believe people were poorly informed, patronised, and felt threatened. Believe it or not, politicians, calling people “stupid”, “rednecks” and racist idiots just because they were asking for information does not go over very well. Telling people you are siding with nazis if you believe there are flaws in the proposal was not likely to win you votes either. The Yes campaign, driven by noble intentions, for the most part, faced an uphill battle in its quest to secure public support. While the campaign had the resources and backing, it stumbled on several fronts. Ultimately, our Indigenous people were failed, and going deeper than that, they have been failed for years, even decades. Billions of dollars have been spent on trying to close the gap. From what I can see, a great deal of it has been squandered, misused, or just downright stolen from the people who desperately needed it. A fundamental problem with the Yes campaign was its inability to present a unified message. Different proponents offered conflicting statements, which left ordinary voters bewildered. For instance, Anthony Albanese portrayed the Voice as a modest request, a gracious gesture, and an outstretched hand. On the other hand, Megan Davis and George Williams argued it represented a substantial structural reform. These inconsistent messages sowed doubt in the minds of the public, making it difficult to rally support. To win over the public, campaigners must explain their positions thoughtfully, logically, and compellingly. It’s not enough to merely “tell” people they’re wrong; you have to show them why and do so respectfully. Unfortunately, the Yes campaign often came across as condescending and self-assured. It dismissed the No campaign as Trumpian or riddled with “misinformation”, without providing substantial, evidence-based rebuttals. Corporate participation in the campaign further exacerbated the divide. Many Australians felt they were being lectured to by big corporations. People were hungry for details about how the Voice would function, a recurring theme in public opinion. However, the Government’s reluctance to provide specific legislation for scrutiny left voters concerned about the Voice’s potential reach, consultation rights, funding, and other critical aspects. I am sad, I have many friends who feel grieved, and rightly so. But I am frustrated their anger is directed at their neighbours when it should be firmly pointed at the people who just squandered millions of taxpayers’ money on a half-baked campaign that just served to confuse, anger, and divide our community. Derek Goforth is an expat of 13 years and father of three living and working in Geraldton