Doorstop Interview - Highgate Primary School
Subjects: Referendum, Western Australia result, Peter Dutton and Michaelia Cash and Clive Palmer's No Campaign
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: I'm here at Highgate Primary School. I'm about to vote yes, something I've been looking forward to doing since the Uluru Statement was released back in 2017. This has been a long time coming and it's part of a long journey that Australia has been on for some 15 years, where we've been talking about recognising the First Peoples of this country, in our Constitution. And what I want to say to everyone across Australia, is remember that this referendum is not over until the polls close here in Western Australia. That's 9pm Sydney time, 6pm Perth time, and I encourage every Western Australian to make sure you get out, have your voice heard, and ensure that this big opportunity for Australians, where people can have the democratic say, is embraced. I encourage everyone to think very deeply and read carefully. If you're still undecided there's people here from the Yes Campaign who will answer your questions, talk to you about what this is about. It's really about three things. It's about properly recognising the First Australians in the Constitution. It's about listening to them. It's about getting better results. Something that every Australian wants. We know that the current system is broken. And this today is our best chance to fix it. Now, one of the great disappointments of this referendum is that Mr Dutton, Mr Palmer and the No Campaign have failed to put out any positive solutions. We haven't seen Peter Dutton or Clive Palmer put out a single idea during this campaign, except for the idea of a second referendum. No one wants Mr Dutton's second referendum. What we want is better results. That's the opportunity that is provided by voting yes today. For myself, here in the Perth electorate, I went to my first event to support Aboriginal Australians back when I was six months old, marching through William Street with my mum and dad. Every day since I've been supporting the need to work towards reconciliation. We had 10,000 people marching over the Matagarup Bridge just a few weeks ago. I'm really hopeful that Western Australia will have a strong yes vote. And that we will be able to get towards that better future with more listening and better results.
JOURNALIST: The polling isn't in your favour though. I mean, how are you feeling about a potential no vote in WA?
GORMAN: Polls don't decide referendums, people decide referendums. That's what everyone is doing today. I don't prejudge the decisions of the Australian people. I don't prejudge the decisions of Western Australians. It's entirely appropriate that people come and have their say. What I know, I've been on booths all morning, I've been talking to people, there are still people walking in making up their mind and I fully respect that. I believe that when we get to tonight, we will see exactly whether those polls are correct. But it's up to the people of Western Australia to have their say.
JOURNALIST: But those indicative polls are looking convincing. It's not like it's a marginal poll result. It's looking pretty overwhelming. I mean, are you nervous?
GORMAN: I love democracy. I think we are so fortunate here in Western Australia to have a peaceful franchise where everyone gets to have their say. I'm not nervous. I'm excited that people get to have their say. Again, we'll see what they have to say tonight when we actually count the votes. As I say, polls don't decide who wins referendums. The Western Australian people decide that and we'll see what they have to say later tonight.
JOURNALIST: You say people are walking in still undecided. Is that a failure of the Yes Campaign to not explain the details?
GORMAN: There's been so much information out there for months and months. Indeed, the Uluru Statement has been out there for six years. I've been out door knocking through my community giving information. We have had the explanatory memorandum, the legislation. I would say this idea that there's not information out there is one of the great lies propagated by the No Campaign. They've done that in their own political interests, for Mr Dutton and Mr Palmer, and that's fine. But there's plenty of information out there. This is a very simple proposition. A constitutional amendment to recognise the First Peoples of Australia through a voice, a non-binding advisory committee to give advice to the Parliament so we get better results and better decisions.
JOURNALIST: Do you realistically think that come 6pm tonight WA can be won over and that this is the state it will come down to?
GORMAN: I don't prejudge the positions of the Western Australian people.
JOURNALIST: What happens if this referendum doesn't get up, if the no vote succeeds? What does tomorrow look like for your Party?
GORMAN: Tomorrow many of us from Western Australia will head over to Canberra for another sitting week of Parliament, whatever the result. I respect that it is only the people of Australia that get to decide what goes in our Constitution. That is something that is not a decision for politicians on any side. That is a decision for the people of Australia. They are making their decision right now. I just encourage everyone to participate in our democracy, make sure they rock up to vote. If you've got any questions ask someone, be they from the Yes side or the No side, or just ask a neighbour or anyone else who you might want to talk this through with. But the most important thing is, we have a great democracy in Australia. And Australians needs to go out and participate in that democracy. That was the request from the Uluru Statement from the Heart. That's what we're delivering on today. And I look forward to seeing the results.
JOURNALIST: If the yes vote doesn't get up, what responsibility should Anthony Albanese wear? And what does that look like?
GORMAN: I recognise that ultimately this is a decision for the Australian people. I think the Australian people will decide how different members of Parliament have engaged in this process. When it comes to the Prime Minister, he's kept his commitment to delivering on this referendum, something that some people told us we shouldn't even hold. But that really would have denied the Australian people the opportunity to have their say. Again, I don't prejudge the decisions of the Australian people, it's up to them to decide today. We'll start counting the votes at three o'clock Western Australian time from the East Coast. And of course, our vote will be counted pretty quickly after six o'clock tonight. It's over to the voters now, which is exactly what I'm about to do.
JOURNALIST: Just this morning Michaelia Cash has called the process of this referendum a traumatic experience. What do you think about that?
GORMAN: What I've seen from Senator Cash and from Peter Dutton is that they're sprouting the same lines as Clive Palmer, time and time again. Now if that's what they've chosen to do, to once again side with Clive Palmer, that's up to them. But this is something that Indigenous Australians asked us to do. Indigenous Australians asked the government. Indeed, they asked the former government under Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, to hold this referendum. We have responded generously to that request, that is to give the people of Australia the opportunity for constitutional recognition. Now, I don't agree on many things with Senator Cash. Indeed, if you think about this idea that Senator Cash and Mr Dutton could have voted to hold this referendum and then said, oh, no, you shouldn't do it. I mean, that's just a ridiculous proposition that they put forward. It's entirely reasonable, that we give people the chance to have a say. That was the request from the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We're delivering on that today. The decision the Australian people make tonight, we will respond to sensibly, whatever that decision will be. But again, it is up to the Australian people to decide. Polls don't decide. Senator Cash doesn't decide. It's the people that are walking into vote, that decide the outcomes of referendums.
JOURNALIST: The AEC raised concerns about conflicts at polling places on both sides. What's your message to people today casting ballots?
GORMAN: I urge everyone who's heading to vote to do so in a peaceful and respectful manner. And I urge everyone who's volunteering to remember that the AEC workers are there to facilitate our democracy and to treat them with respect, and treat one another with respect. We're really lucky in Australia to have a great democracy. Let's not drag it down with silly conflict. Let's just let everyone have their say.
ENDS