The New South Wales independent MP Alex Greenwich is warning supporters of the Indigenous voice to parliament not to be complacent in the lead-up to the referendum and urging them to “celebrate” Liberals and Nationals who support the vote.
The MP and Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson will appear with independent MP Allegra Spender and Liberal MP Felicity Wilson at the North Bondi surf club on Sunday to give voters a chance to learn more and ask questions ahead of the referendum.
Greenwich will use the forum to remind inner-city Sydney residents to engage in the debate and to remember to vote when the time comes.
“We don’t want a situation where Sydneysiders just assume that the referendum is going to pass. They need to actively participate in achieving that,” he told Guardian Australia.
“Voter turnout rate in inner-city areas for the referendum needs to be as high as possible.
“People generally should not take for granted that because everybody in their circle is voting yes that it’s going to pass. It’s going to require everybody in their circle to actually go and vote yes.”
The independent will urge people voting yes to “celebrate” Liberals and Nationals who support the voice, as happened during the fight for marriage equality.
“It’s really important that we encourage that, in a similar way in which we did in the marriage equality campaign,” Greenwich said.
He reflected on an event attended by former Liberal figure Christopher Pyne, Labor’s Penny Wong and Greens figure Sarah Hanson-Young.
“[They were] all at the same event, everybody got along, and we’re all on the same page – showing that this is something that is and should be above politics.”
Spender, the independent for Wentworth, echoed those views, noting the importance of Liberals such as former NSW treasurer Matt Kean in the campaign so far.
“This should not be a party-political issue,” she said ahead of the event.
Spender has been active in the yes campaign, door-knocking extensively alongside volunteers in Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs.
“Volunteers have received a very positive response out in the community,” she said.
“Overwhelmingly people want Indigenous Australians to have the same opportunities as other Australians. They know the old ways haven’t worked. They know the voice is an opportunity to do better.”
Spender said her priority was making sure her community was equipped with information so they could make a “considered choice” at the referendum.
Greenwich said all politicians needed to declare their positions and advocate for their beliefs, but insisted it was important for campaigns to centre on the voices of Aboriginal Australians, as he believed the yes campaign had done.
“They’ve been really good at promoting the voices of First Nations people … and encouraging conversation,” he said.
“Everybody in elected office has a responsibility to communicate with a constituency, whether it’s their electrical or their state, as to their position.”
Greenwich will seek to boost sentiment about the referendum despite negative polling in recent weeks to suggest support was softening in New South Wales, reminding attendees that early polls showed marriage equality on track to fail ahead of a resounding yes result.
“I’m confident that the same will happen with the voice referendum,” he said.
