Article-Voices Added to YES Campaign
Article | The Mercury | 12 September 2023; pg 2.
Gutwein lends voice to Yes campaign
Tess Mccracken & Genevieve Holding
It is up to Tasmania to help mainlanders see the way forward to a Yes vote, Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says.
Mr Pearson met former premier Peter Gutwein and Independent MLC Meg Webb on Monday as part of the campaign for a Yes vote.
Polling indicates Tasmania is the only state with a Yes majority and Mr Pearson said the opportunity to explain what this referendum means must be taken, noting that bipartisanship was helping “lead the way”.
“If we have personal conversations about the provisions, I find for the first time people are understanding what this referendum is about and what it is not.
“I’m very pleased we have Liberals here in Tasmania who are supporting principal position on recognition, both the former premier and the current premier are really showing the way.” Mr Gutwein said the Australian public needed to understand that the constitution won’t “change their lives”, only those of Indigenous people.
“One of the things we have to do is ensure that we close the gap a gap that for too long hasn’t narrowed,” Mr Gutwein said.
“This proposal was brought forward by Indigenous Australians, those who want to see better outcomes that want to see the gap narrowing.” Mr Pearson will continue his tour in Hobart on Tuesday.
