The Central Coast has echoed the national and NSW results in the Voice referendum, delivering a decisive No vote on October 14.
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid said the Government respected the result and accepted the decision of the Australian people.
The Yes vote in the seat of Robertson was slightly more than the national and NSW averages, coming in at 42.9 per cent, with 57.51 per cent of voters opting for No.
In Dobell, the Yes vote was notably less than the Federal and State averages, with 35.1 per cent of voters writing Yes on the ballot form and the remaining 64.9 per cent voting No.
Shortland, which takes in the northern part of the Central Coast from Budgewoi and Blue Haven, was probably closest to the national and NSW figures, recording 38.1 per cent Yes votes and 61.9 percent No.
Nationwide, the results were 39.36 Yes and 60.64 per cent No, while NSW recorded 40.4 per cent Yes and 59.6 per cent No.
“Beyond this, the Albanese Government is delivering an ambitious agenda focussed on taking pressure off Australians through cost-of-living relief, strengthening Medicare, building our future here and promoting security,” Reid said.
“We’re continuing to work for Australia – taking responsibility for the challenges facing the country, working with our international partners on challenges beyond our borders and their impacts at home, and doing everything we can to responsibly help Australians with the cost of living.
“Above all, we will work to promote unity and cohesion in our diverse nation.”
A Statement from Indigenous Australians who supported the referendum has called for a week of silence in the wake of the result.
“Recognition in the constitution of the descendants of the original and continuing owners of Australia would have been a great advance for Australians,” the statement said.
“Alas, the majority have rejected it.
“This is a bitter irony; that people who have only been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognise those whose home this land has been for 60,000 and more years is beyond reason.
“The referendum was a chance for newcomers to show a long-refused grace and gratitude and to acknowledge that the brutal dispossession of our people underwrote their every advantage in this country.
“For more than six years, we have explained to our nation why the Voice was our great hope to achieve real change for our families and communities.
“To the Australians who supported us in this vote – we thank you sincerely.
“You comprise many millions of Australians of love and goodwill.
“We know you wanted a better future for Australia, and to put the colonial past behind us by choosing belated recognition and justice.
“We thank the Prime Minister and his government for having the conviction to take this referendum to the Australian people at our request.
“We thank him for his advocacy and all parliamentarians who did the same, including members of the Teals, Greens, Nationals and independents who stood by us.
“We pay particular respect to the Liberal parliamentarians who bravely advocated for the Voice.”
The statement said dissecting the reasons for the outcome would be done in the weeks, years and decades to come.
“Now is the time for silence, to mourn and deeply consider the consequence of this outcome,” it said.
The group said it would be lowering its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to half-mast for the week of silence to acknowledge the result and asked others to do the same.
Major church providers Anglicare Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army, and UnitingCare Australia issued a statement saying they remained committed to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people toward healing and hope.
“We reaffirm our commitment to, and support for, the Uluru Statement from the Heart as a generous invitation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to all Australians,” the statement said.
Beyond Blue Chair Julia Gillard and Board directors said that while the referendum result was not the one Beyond Blue had hoped for, they remained hopeful that all Australians wanted to heal divisions and create a better future together.
Terry Collins