Published: 8:13 p.m. EDT, September 17, 2023 | Updated: 9:18 p.m. EDT, September 17, 2023
Channel Seven entertainment reporter Peter Ford has sparked debate after accusing protesters at Melbourne’s Walk for Yes rally of “pretending to care about struggling Indigenous peoples”.
Around 30,000 activists descended on Melbourne’s city center on Sunday afternoon to urge Australians to vote “yes” in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
Hours later, Melbourne-based Ford took to
“Fascinating to see an Indigenous homeless man outside Flinders Street Station this afternoon as hundreds – perhaps thousands – of YES protesters walk right past him,” the Showbiz reporter wrote.
“Nobody stopped to acknowledge him. Nobody gave him anything. “Maybe it happened outside of the 20 minutes that I saw,” he added.
Channel Seven entertainment reporter Peter Ford (pictured) has sparked debate after accusing protesters at the Walk for Yes rally in Melbourne of “pretending to care about struggling Indigenous people.” “Care for peoples”.
His message was met with angry backlash from users who accused him of being hypocritical for “standing and watching” instead of helping the indigenous man himself.
Ford denied that accusation, pointing out that, unlike the Yes activists, he didn’t “march and hold signs to act like he cared.”
Ford also announced that he would not vote at all during the referendum, despite the fact that this was the case Mandatory in all federal elections in Australia.
Around 30,000 activists descended on Melbourne’s city center on Sunday afternoon to urge Australians to vote “yes” in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum. (Pictured: Yes supporters march in Melbourne on Sunday September 17)
Hours later, Melbourne-based Ford took to
“So your plan is to vote no and leave things as they are?” one user asked, to which Ford replied, “I’m not voting.”
Not voting in a referendum without a “good and sufficient reason” is a criminal offense and can be punished with a fine.
However, there is no law prohibiting a voter from leaving their ballot blank in the voting booth.
Ford later deleted his initial post after he was inundated with angry messages.
Ford also announced that he would not vote at all during the referendum, despite compulsory voting in all federal elections in Australia
“Just deleted earlier tweet because I don’t feel like insulting myself on a nice Sunday arvo. “Certainly hit a nerve!” he began.
“People are obviously not familiar with the Melbourne CBD and don’t realize how many homeless people you see on every block you walk.” It was my observation. “You don’t like it – that’s totally fine,” Ford concluded.
The vote on the Voice to Parliament referendum will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023
Ford later deleted his initial post after he was inundated with angry messages
The question put to Australians is: ‘A proposed law: Amending the Constitution to recognize the indigenous peoples of Australia by creating an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice.’ Do you agree with this proposed amendment?’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly stated that The Voice will be an advisory body to Parliament that will allow Indigenous people to engage in discussion about the laws that affect them and what is needed in their communities .
Despite dwindling support in the polls, the Yes campaign is still confident it can secure a victory, relying on “soft” No voters and Australians who are not yet fully engaged in the debate.
For the referendum to be successful, the majority of Australians in most states must vote yes.
Support for the Yes case has fallen from more than 60 percent to 40 percent or even lower, partly due to comments from those behind the Voice to Parliament and Uluru Statement of the Heart.
The latest Resolve Political Monitor poll found that 43 percent of voters supported a plan to enshrine the vote in the constitution, down 20 percentage points from a year ago.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has repeatedly stated that the Voice will be an advisory body to Parliament that will allow Indigenous people to engage in discussion about the laws that affect them and what is happening in their communities is needed
