Voice to Parliament Yes campaigners are given a script to cover pros and cons

An official script for Yes campaigners to win over ‘No’ and uncertain voters in the Voice to Parliament referendum tells volunteers to focus on forming an ’emotional connection’ with voters, rather than leading debates to win.

The nine-page Yes23 ‘how-to’ guide, obtained by Daily Mail Australia, offers 14 scenarios for difficult conversations with voters and the best way to handle them to win their votes.

The common concerns campaigners are expected to encounter include criticism that it won’t make a practical difference to Aboriginal people’s lives, that ‘no one will explain how it will work’ and fears that it won’t address real issues for Indigenous peoples . people.

The scripted Yes campaign responses aim to promote the idea that the vote is a “stepping stone on the path to justice,” will stand above “usual partisan politics,” and is an “important practical step.”

A referendum will be held between October and December, asking the Australian public whether a Voice to Parliament – an advisory body for Indigenous people – should be constitutionally enshrined.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described this as a ‘modest request from the heart’ and an ‘offer’ he hopes all Australians will embrace.

Yes23 volunteers are told to emphasize creating an emotional connection with voters.

They are instructed to “believe in your own support” – rather than focusing on having all the answers or engaging in an “intellectual debate.”

Volunteers have been given a three-pronged approach to persuading friends and family.

They are told to ask open-ended questions, empathize with others’ points of view, and return the conversation to pro-yes arguments.

Open questions suggested in the guide include: ‘Have you heard much about the Voice to Parliament? What do you think about it?’

Campaigners are encouraged to “examine the other person’s thoughts, without offering your own. Like: that’s interesting. Where did you hear that? How did you feel when you heard that?

“The goal here is to take what you’ve heard, ‘make it right’ and connect those things to your reasons for voting yes.”

“We redirect the positivity we built in the conversation to our conclusion, messages and values.”

When asked about what the Voice could mean in practice, the campaign gave a sample response stating: ‘The topics on which a Voice body advises are things like education, health, employment and land management.

“In the past, First Nations people have had no opportunity to have input into policy. Policies where politicians made decisions on behalf of First Nations people have failed. Our children and grandchildren will have better facilities and opportunities if they participate in the development of policy.’

Some of the top tips received by Yes voters include:

• To be open to discussion because ‘a lot of people are clumsy’
• Speak from the heart: emotional connection over intellectual debate
• Believing in your own support is more important than knowing every detail
• When in doubt, keep it simple

Strong criticism has been leveled at the government and the Yes campaign’s reluctance to provide extensive details for a proposal that will permanently amend the Australian Constitution.

Ja23 states that there is ‘no point’ in having a detailed and thorough consultation about the ins and outs of the advisory body until a mandate from the people has been obtained.

Instead, activists are urged to reflect on the unifying message behind the proposal: closing the health and literacy gap, improving the quality of life of the country’s most disadvantaged and bringing the country together.

The Liberal Party opposes the constitutional element of the proposal, but has pushed several times to support legislative changes to help First Nations people.

In the run-up to the referendum, both sides of the debate are firing up their arguments and embarking on an intense period of campaigning. Pamphlets have been distributed in the community and politicians are making their views known.

According to the latest Newspoll, support stands at about 43 percent, with only two states following to vote yes. A referendum needs a mandate from the majority of the people in the majority of states to pass.

As bipartisan campaigns intensify, Yes voters are encouraged to “use simple language and avoid jargon” when interacting with No voters.

But the Yes23 campaign said ‘people you know – or friends or family, people at work, your church, your local sports club – will be much more affected by a conversation with you about this than anything they see or hear from a third party.

‘These kinds of conversations are sometimes confrontational, but also surprising, respectful and affirming.’

The script encourages Yes voters to use “simple, everyday language” and “take a few moments before conversations to remind yourself of your intentions.”

“Many people don’t have a good understanding of how the constitution works or differs from government laws and policies.

“Instead of assuming that the people you’re talking to know how it all works, we should use simple, everyday language.”

“Most of the conversations we have on a daily basis are not the most effective at getting someone to reconsider their point of view.

“People are unlikely to change their perspective just because someone has ‘corrected’ them – no matter how much they love or respect that person.”

And to those concerned that the referendum debate will divert attention from securing “other real commitments,” the campaign group says: “First Nations people have been calling for meaningful change for years. This referendum is a step in the right direction.

‘This is a stepping stone to justice. After the vote, it’s up to our communities across the country to shape the Voice to Parliament.

“There will be a lengthy consultation process to ensure that the model effectively shapes public policy and ensures better outcomes for all of us.”

Campaigners get this example when faced with friends and family who don’t think it will do anything to actually help underprivileged communities: ‘There’s no denying that if a majority of Australians voted YES it would be a powerful unifying moment in Australian history, and a major step towards reconciliation.

“A constitutionally entrenched voice will be above usual partisan politics – representatives will focus solely on the issues and will be directly accountable to indigenous people on the ground.

“Constitutional recognition enshrined in the Constitution through a Voice to Parliament is not the only thing that needs to be done, but it is an important practical step to get it right in the future.”