Editor’s Desk: Start of spring means campaign mode with Voice referendum and local govt election weeks away

Most of us have thrown our arms wide open, twirling in delight Sound of Music style, basking in the warmer weather and arrival of spring time. But what arguably hasn’t been as welcome is the fact the start of spring heralds the beginning of two campaigns that will dominate public discourse and news headlines for the next six or more weeks. However, it’s important for the community to remember this through all the political rhetoric, non-answers and mountain of advertising coming our way: the vital role and privilege it is to vote. Everyone will be talking about the Voice referendum in the lead-up to October 14. Yes and No campaigns will ramp up in earnest. It must be said the Yes campaign and Albanese Government have their work cut out for them to overcome the biggest critique to date they haven’t informed the public enough about what an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would mean in real and tangible terms, which has made a whole bunch of fence-sitters hop over to the No side. Supporters of the Voice say if not now, then when? Most fear if the Voice fails, they’ll never get another chance in their lifetime and it’ll mean a backward step for reconciliation in this country. It doesn’t help the Yes campaign that referendums are notoriously difficult to get up, with only eight out of Australia’s 44 succeeding. The other campaign I’m talking about is local government elections on October 21. Unlike the referendum, voting in local government elections is not compulsory and they usually have a lower voter turnout. But given the day-to-day impact a council has on our lives, why wouldn’t you want to have a say in who represents you? The council is going to shrink under State Government reforms, which means less spots are up for grabs this election, making it even more important we get the right balance and mix. So yes, get ready for election fatigue to set in this spring. But remember it’s up to people like me and you to be the decision-makers on one very important societal issue with a significant ripple effect and again on who represents us at a local grassroots level for the next four years.