5 days ago
New files reveal how Dan Andrews allocated $6.5million in taxpayer dollars to boost the Voice as support plummeted across the country
Dan Andrews' Labor government invested millions in the Yes campaign at the eleventh hour of the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
In September 2023, three weeks before Australians' cast their vote, funds budgeted to support Victoria's pathway to Indigenous Treaty were reassigned.
Briefing files, revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, found the state government approved the reallocation of $6.5million to boost the 'Yes' campaign - as part of a movement from governments in all Australian states and territories.
In February 2023, each committed to the National Cabinet's Statement of Intent, supporting a national, constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
Former Victorian assistant treasurer Danny Pearson approved the 'reprioritisation' of funds which was signed off by then-minister for treaty and First Peoples of Australia, Gabrielle Williams, on September 25.
In the fortnight leading up to the referendum on October 14, support for the Voice plummeted to 34 per cent, reaching its lowest ebb.
But the funding was not used and was re-allocated back to the Treaty process.
'The Victorian Government did not spend any money on the Commonwealth Voice referendum,' a state government spokesperson said.
In that crucial period, a Newspoll conducted by The Australian found the 'No' vote outnumbered the 'Yes' case in every demographic category.
Warren Mundine, who strongly advocated for the No campaign, told the Herald Sun the approval of the funding was a 'disgrace'.
'It was quite definite that the Voice was going to be thrown away,' he said.
'The Victorian government are happy to just leak money.'
The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
The revelation comes as discussion of The Voice was reinvigorated this year.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong claimed in April, during her first podcast interview, that there will one day be a Voice.
'I think we'll look back on it in 10 years' time and it'll be a bit like marriage equality,' Senator Wong told the Betoota Talks podcast.
'I always used to say, marriage equality, which took us such a bloody fight to get that done, and I thought, all this fuss.
'It'll become something, it'll be like, people go "did we even have an argument about that?"'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly dismissed the notion of holding another referendum.
