Ray Martin slams No voters during impassioned defence of Voice to Parliament referendum

Australian media icon Ray Martin has recently taken centre stage in the ongoing debate surrounding the Voice to Parliament referendum.

During an impassioned speech to supporters of the Voice, Martin didn’t mince words when he took aim at those planning to vote “No” in the upcoming referendum.

“If you don’t know, find out what you don’t know,” he told the crowd.

“What that excellent slogan is saying, is if you’re a dinosaur or a d**khead who can’t be bothered reading, then vote No.”

Martin highlighted that those in opposition to the referendum are constantly calling for more details about the historic move, yet he stressed that the essence of the referendum couldn’t be more straightforward.

“At this stage of the game, the details simply don’t matter. They never did matter, honestly. They’re irrelevant,” he said.

“Over the next 10 to 20 years, no matter who is in government, the details will change, inevitably. As will the members of the Voice delegation from around Australia, according to the needs, the priorities and the policies that are meant to close that bloody gap.

“You can’t write all that in the constitution in 2023.

“It’s a big country with lots of different demands and needs. How do you give the details of all that in the Australian constitution? Of course you don’t.”

Martin isn’t the only well-known media figure to throw their hat in the ring on this contentious issue, recently former politician and broadcaster Derryn Hinch weighed in with his two cents on how he would like to see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese approach the matter.

“Sadly, it is too late, but I wish Albo had split the Referendum in two,” he wrote.

“I would vote 1000% for strong, deserved, recognition of Australia’s indigenous history in our Constitution. But it is a total NO to enshrining an indigenous lobby group in the Constitution.”

The referendum in which Australians will vote on whether or not the government should amend the constitution and include the landmark advisory committee is scheduled to take place on October 14.

The Voice to Parliament is an elected body of First Nations representatives advising the government on the handling of Indigenous issues.

If voted through, The Voice would provide permanent representation and recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

The Voice will be in place to provide advice to the government and would not deliver services, manage government funding, or mediate between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

It is the first proposal contained within the Uluru Statement from the Heart.