Yes campaign struggling to gain foothold in regional Queensland

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Australia's most decentralised mainland state is tipped to return a resounding 'no' vote. The ABC has spoken to regional Queenslanders about the sentiment in their communities where the yes campaign has largely struggled to gain a foothold.

Transcript

00:00 When the pews feel that this Toowoomba church, Reverend Paul Mitchell, faces a congregation

00:07 wracked with conflict.

00:09 It's been really difficult to have conversations and that's part of where the sadness comes from

00:14 because there are a lot of people who seem to be relying on very limited information.

00:23 On Saturday, Australians will decide whether to enshrine an Indigenous voice to Parliament

00:28 in the Constitution.

00:30 Reverend Mitchell believes a yes vote will promote healing.

00:34 His parishioners aren't convinced.

00:36 There's a denial of history and a denial of reality that is there

00:41 because some of these things are really confronting.

00:43 The voice is sparking conversations around tables across regional Queensland.

00:49 This is going to divide the nation and that isn't OK.

00:52 Where federal politics skew conservative.

00:55 How can I vote for something that I don't know the full details of?

00:58 A lot of people don't want to talk about it from fear of being judged.

01:02 This Townsville motel manager says everyone she speaks to is voting no

01:08 or isn't engaged in the debate.

01:10 With the housing shortages, health system, price of living,

01:15 there are so many other things in front of that campaign

01:19 that are more pressing and more urgent in our lives.

01:23 It's a similar sentiment at this Gold Coast restaurant.

01:27 Most of the people that I talk to are talking about the cost of it

01:31 more than what it's going to achieve or anything.

01:34 Polling indicates the country's most decentralised mainland state

01:38 will return a strong no vote.

01:41 With advocacy efforts largely concentrated in the capital cities,

01:44 it seems the Yes Campaign's messages have failed to cut through in regional Queensland.

01:50 It's just not an issue that's keeping people awake at night.

01:52 Therefore they're not really keen to take in the messages.

01:56 A lot of people are switching off because it seems to be more about

02:00 a political stoush between the two campaigns

02:03 than it is about what the referendum will produce.

02:06 Analysts think many will wait until the final moment to make up their minds.

02:11 What am I going to do when I walk up there and fill in the form?

02:15 I still don't know.

02:16 Bye.

02:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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