The New Class, Inner City University Elites and the Voice By James Reed
Their ABC must be hurting deeply after the Voice defeat. These types of elites when they face disappointments, like to over-think events, so they have featured a professional sociologist to tell us all that university educated people tended to vote Yes. The other mob, presumably uneducated by these standards, go for the more primitive No side. According to the sociologist: “it's been shown in other situations, where people who are more cosmopolitan and globally oriented are likely to be supportive of something like this, as they were in relationship to the same-sex marriage plebiscite."
That is true. And, why might that be? No doubt this crowd will be arguing that it shows that the university educated have truth and reason on their side. But, do they? On Covid, on most issues they got it wrong; the majority until recently no doubt would have supported a natural evolution model for the Covid-19 virus, even though the case for that was undermined early in the plandemic, and it was probably to stand opposed to President Trump. It can be argued in reply that a university education is not about critical sceptical rationality, but intellectual conformity to woke, Leftist ideologies.
“The rejection of the Voice to Parliament referendum in all six states has revealed more than simply a divide in sentiment between inner-city voters and those in outer suburbs and regions.
Key points:
- ACT was the only state or territory to vote Yes
- The results closely reflects the 1999 republic referendum
- One analyst says cost-of-living pressures affected the outcome
Maps of how each state voted show support for Yes was strongest in the inner suburbs, while the majority of outer suburban, regional and rural voters said No.
But the reasons why voters rejected the referendum question is more complex than where they live, according to Emeritus Professor of Sociology Andrew Jakubowicz from the University of Technology Sydney.
"Having higher education in particular contributes to someone's likelihood of voting Yes," he said.
"A lot of it has to do with education, income, age and gender. There's also a factor which is a bit more difficult to pin down.
"But it's been shown in other situations, where people who are more cosmopolitan and globally oriented are likely to be supportive of something like this, as they were in relationship to the same-sex marriage plebiscite."
The ACT, where more than 40 per cent of voters have a university degree, was the only state or territory to vote Yes.
Age was also a factor in how likely people were to vote Yes.
Tony Barry from consulting firm RedBridge Group told ABC News seats with the highest proportion of people aged 20 to 34 were in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Last night the Yes vote sat at 80 per cent, 70 per cent and 60 per cent in those seats respectively.
ABC election analyst Antony Green said the result closely mirrored the outcome of the 1999 republic referendum, which was also defeated.
"Seats with a high social status have tended to vote Yes … and that is a pattern that is repeated in both Sydney and Melbourne, and other cities dotted around the country," he said.
"It's an attempt to achieve something which a lot of people didn't particularly feel connected to, or wondered what it's all about and it has led to the defeat of the referendum."
Western Sydney votes No
On Saturday night, every Western Sydney seat had either been called for, or was leaning towards a No vote.
Professor Jakubowicz said areas with higher proportions of working class or migrant voters were more concerned with cost-of-living issues.
"If the economic pressures weren't as critical, the outcome might have been different," he said.
He said messages from faith leaders also appeared unable to cut through.
"In almost every major religion and multicultural organisation advocated the Yes vote. And, you know, in spades, people didn't support that position."
Support for Indigenous Australians
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76
- eSafety Commission's First Nations resources
Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou from Western Sydney welcomed the rejection of the Voice as a win for "equality and common sense".
"This woke idealistic nonsense has left a bitter taste in the mouth of millions of Australians," he said.
The results closely mimic the outcome of the failed 1999 republic referendum, where regional seats led the No vote and Yes campaigners were accused of pushing an "elite" agenda.
Wealthier voters more likely to say Yes
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's own electorate of Grayndler voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Voice — the highest Yes vote in NSW.
The result also tells a story about cost-of-living pressures, according to Mr Barry.
Two of the highest income-earning seats, Wentworth and Warringah, were showing Yes votes upwards of 60 per cent at 10pm on Saturday.
At the same time, Hinkler in Queensland, Lyons in Tasmania and Grey in South Australia — which have the lowest household incomes — had Yes votes of about 20 and 30 per cent.
"I think it is pretty clear patterns about income earning and its impact on the vote, especially in the cost-of-living crisis where it's really hard to communicate through that prism," Mr Barry said.
The biggest No vote in the country came from the rural Queensland seat of Maranoa, the same electorate which had the most opposition to the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite.
'Terrified for next chapter'
Jarin Baigent, chief executive Wyanga Aged Care in Redfern, was shocked by the result.(ABC News:)
Yes voter and Wiradjuri woman Jarin Baigent was at a women's networking event on the Central Coast of NSW when she heard the result.
"I'm heartbroken, I feel crushed and devastated and I'm actually terrified for the next chapter in this country's story," she said.
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, who also chose to defy his party leader to support the Yes campaign, told ABC News the government was partially to blame for the outcome.
"I think that, unfortunately, the process was defective here," he said.
"They didn't release an exposure draft bill, but the most critical component here was the refusal to negotiate and a refusal to try and compromise to get a product which could have captured the centre ground."”
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