Research by the University of Melbourne into popular Chinese messaging app WeChat has found discussion has been relatively muted about the proposal to enshrine an Indigenous voice into the constitution.
What little discussion the voice has garnered has been dominated by right-wing rhetoric and misinformation, research fellow Fan Yang found.
One particular account called YamiChew published ‘No’ campaign videos that regurgitated misinformation, that has elsewhere been fact-checked, about the potential for the voice to undermine constitutional integrity and Indigenous privilege.
These videos have received tens of thousands of reposts and hundreds of comments.
Meanwhile, pro-voice content and videos from official political groups were lucky to receive more than 20 likes.
With Chinese Australians making up almost six per cent of the population, Yang has used a piece in The Conversation to call on the government to address the misinformation and create messaging that is accessible to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of taking part in the spread of misinformation.
“We’ve had, quite frankly, some just absurd debates … some of that has been repeated over and over again,” he told ABC Radio Sydney on Monday.
“I just say focus on what the question is.”
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has apologised to voters after suggesting they could apply for postal votes on its website before the referendum’s writs were issued, which meant many Australians would have to reapply, according to reports by The Guardian Australia.
A statement released by the Australian Electoral Commission on September 6 warned postal vote applications could only open when the writ was issued – September 11.
However, the Liberals began offering postal vote applications through their site before that date.
As a result, South Australian Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle and the West Australian Liberal party sent messages to voters apologising and advising them to re-apply.
“We apologise again for the inconvenience, but it is very important that all Australians have their say,” one email said, according to The Guardian Australia.
“While the prime minister announced the date of the referendum and launched the Yes campaign on 30 August, he had not actually issued the writ to start the referendum.”
Those wanting to submit a postal vote have been advised by the AEC to do so through its official channels.
Dutton has continued to claim the voice will divide Australians and waste taxpayer money that could spent on practical solutions.
“(The prime minister) has divided the country,” he told Sky News.
“I hope that people do make the effort to get out and vote because this would be the most detrimental change to our constitution in our nation’s history.
“We live in the best country in the world, we should be prepared to stand up and defend it to make sure that our institutions are protected.”
More than 2.2 million people have cast an early ballot while a further 1.9 million applied for a postal vote ahead of polling day on October 14.
– AAP
