Greens are between a rock and a hard place because there remains significant internal dissent from First Nations quarters, or at least unease. Don’t forget that in February we were here: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/08/greens-first-nations-conveners-side-with-lidia-thorpe-and-say-they-do-not-support-voice-to-parliament

That’s moderated some since but the First Nations activist support I’ve seen within the Greens here in Victoria at least has been framed around “a no vote will be the worse outcome” rather than much enthusiastic support. Issues around the validity of representation and recognition still loom large here and despite the recent First Peoples’ Assembly elections are yet to be thrashed out at a state level.

As for Labor? Well the Queensland, NT and WA governments have made it pretty clear how much they intend to listen to First Nation voices. Not at all. Even the Federal Government have had some notable examples of picking only the advice they wanted to hear.

This feels like it would have been better off pushed until the next election or after. There’s internal fronts that needed to be agreed upon first.

I’ll be voting yes, but I’m also expecting a very disappointing government response to the Voice should it get up. I’m just hoping that disappointment is very, very publicly aired.