Tens of thousands of Australians have attended rallies around the country to show their support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
With a referendum just months away, public support for the proposal is slipping, prompting the Yes campaign to shake up its approach.
Crowds gathered at more than 25 events calling for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the Constitution.
The Yes campaign shifted the focus from sports stars and celebrity endorsements to everyday Indigenous Australians.
“It’s all Australians we want to be involved in this,” Yes23 director Dean Parkin said.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud, whose party opposes the plan, doubled down on his views.
“It is not necessarily who is selling the Yes case, it’s actually what they’re selling,” he said.
More than 70 organisations are sold on the message.
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Banks, sporting codes, insurance companies, trade unions, not-for-profits and major corporations are joining forces to call for a Yes vote.
Wesfarmers, Rio Tinto and BHP have each donated $2 million to the campaign.
“They represent all parts of society – and they are the ones saying we can do this together,” Karen Mundine from Reconciliation Australia said.
But the Voice appears to be losing popularity with the public, with 43 per cent voting Yes in the latest Newspoll.and 47 per cent voting No.
In a recent Resolve Poll, support dropped below a majority with No leading 51 to 49.
While a date for the referendum is yet to be set, it’s widely expected to be held in October.
The Yes campaign believes there’s enough time to turn things around.
