The yes campaign has ramped up its efforts before the Indigenous voice to parliament vote, launching a $20 million advertising blitz while holding ‘Walk for Yes’ demonstrations around the country to show support for their position.
The advertisement, which will debut on Saturday across TV, digital, radio, and print platforms, portrays a young Indigenous child who queries whether or not he will “grow up in a country that hears my voice.”
According to the Yes campaign, the advertisement aims to draw viewers’ attention to the figures that demonstrate the magnitude of the challenges faced by Indigenous people.
The young youngster in the new advertisement asks, “Will I live as long as other Australians?”
“Will I be able to attend a reputable educational institution? Can I learn the language of my people? Will my accomplishments in the sporting world be recognized by those who make important policy decisions for our nation?
“‘Yes’ is what makes it possible.”
The advertisement, designed by a prominent firm called Clemenger, returns the campaign to television during the AFL and NRL finals, which are times when ratings are among the highest they get throughout the year.
The event takes place at the same time as the Walk For Yes, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday in major cities nationwide and feature performances by Dan Sultan, Missy Higgins, and Paul Kelly.
The most recent commercial is a continuation of an earlier advertising campaign that was introduced in early September and featured John Farnham’s rendition of the song “You’re the Voice.”
Dean Parkin, the director of Yes23, expressed the expectation that the new advertisement will clarify why a successful vote for yes would be the “best shot we have” at solving the disadvantage that Indigenous communities are faced with.
“A successful yes vote will make a real and practical difference for Indigenous people,” said Parkin. “A no vote will have no effect.”
“As more and more people in Australia begin to tune in, we are attempting to explain to the community that this referendum is simply about recognizing the First Peoples of this nation and listening to them so that we can better address issues that have persisted for a long time,”
In the weeks leading up to the vote, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, assured reporters in Coffs Harbour that the “yes” campaign will maintain a cheerful attitude.
“What we need to do to secure a vote for yes is to continue to run a positive campaign,” he added. “That is what we need to do to secure a vote for yes.”
“We will continue to present this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity in order to lift up this generation as well as future generations and to close the gap.”
Peter Dutton, leader of opposition, has argued that, should he be elected, he intends to call for a second referendum that focuses solely on the issue of constitutional recognition.
“I don’t believe people, if they vote no on 14 October, are voting against helping Indigenous Australians,” he added. “I just don’t believe that.”
“I don’t believe they are voting against recognizing Indigenous Australians in the constitution; however, I do believe they are voting against the voice of Indigenous Australians.”
The debut of the advertisement marks the beginning of a month-long campaign that will seek to flip the results of polls in advance of the referendum that will take place on October 14th.
At the Walk for Yes event that will take place in Sydney’s Victoria Park on Sunday, performances will be given by Sultan and Higgins. In Melbourne, performances will be given at Federation Square by Peter Garrett, Mia Wray, and Spiderbait.
In addition to the events that will take place in Hobart, Canberra, and Darwin, performances by John Butler and Phil Walleystack are scheduled to take place at Victoria Gardens in Perth.
