Libs Will Cave in on the Voice Referendum By James Reed

The Coalition is set to cave in on the Voice referendum, as the legislation seems set to pass the Senate, with the Coalition’s backing. PM Albo has said that bipartisanship is key to the referendum's success. In other words, expect the major parties to all follow the line that the elites, who have been with this from the beginning, have made as the template. Anyway, get it over with; let’s see the ideology, and then we can take the critique to the streets, so to speak. I look forward to the heady days of the past when we got leaflets out. Only today it will have to involve the use of walking frames, but I will get there!

I am my usual optimistic self, in that I feel that we can win this one. They have no intellectual case, and it is just a matter of getting that message out.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-22/voice-negotiations-near-conclusion/102125920

“Legislation governing the operation of this year's Voice to Parliament referendum appears likely to pass the Senate with Coalition backing, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tells his party bipartisanship is key to the referendum's success.

Key points:

• The federal opposition is expected to support the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill after securing a deal on pamphlets
• Meanwhile, the government has agreed to distribute official pamphlets outlining the Yes and No campaigns
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is highlighting the need for bipartisanship to deliver a successful referendum outcome

The government has agreed to provide official pamphlets outlining both the Yes and No campaign positions on the referendum, in exchange for securing the Coalition's support for its bill.

Negotiations on the exact contents of the pamphlet are ongoing, with sources telling the ABC the majority of Liberal MPs and several Nationals support the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Nationals Leader David Littleproud are among those who have actively pushed for the party to back the machinery legislation.

A number of conservative Liberal MPs and Nationals have pushed to oppose the bill, a split described by some as a "diversity of opinion".

That legislation — which is being debated in the Senate this week — outlines the framework for operating a referendum, including donation and campaigning rules, as well as how and when voting will take place.”