Olympic champion Cathy Freeman says change is “urgent” in a video posted overnight declaring her support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
In the video posted to Yes23’s social media pages, Freeman said “I’m voting Yes, and I’m asking that all Australians do too”.
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“We have the chance to be part of a moment that brings people together, to work hard for something that we can all believe in,” she said in the video.
“To stand together and to show our support for Australians who need it the most.
“To recognise Indigenous peoples in our Constitution for the very first time, to give our kids the very best start in life.”
Freeman, who famously won the 400m gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is the latest Indigenous athlete to show their support.
She joins the likes of former AFL player, Eddie Betts, former NRL player, Johnathon Hurston, and former tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
Freeman’s video comes after recent polling by The Guardianrevealed a majority of votes would be voting No.
Of 1,135 respondents, 51 per cent said they would vote No, 41 per cent would vote Yes, while nine per cent were uncertain.
The referendum for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament will be held on October 14 – the first in Australia since 1999.