‘Aboriginal Voice Campaign: ‘Yes’ Outspends ‘No’ by 2:1′

After six months following the rejection of the proposal for Indigenous Australians to have a Voice to Parliament in a 60:40 referendum result, the Australian Electoral Commission disclosed the financial supporters of both the “Yes” and “No” campaigns. The “Yes” campaign spent nearly $55 million (US$35.8 million), whereas the “No” campaign groups invested over $25 million (US$16.27 million).

Disclosure of donations over $15,200 (US$9,894) is legally required.

Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, the primary supporter of the pro-Voice campaign, spent $43.8 million and received $47.5 million in donations. In contrast, the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the home of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, garnered $11.12 million in donations and spent $10.3 million. Combined, these two groups received $58.59 million and spent $54.13 million.

On the opposing side, Australians for Unity (also known as Fair Australia) allocated $11.1 million, while Advance Australia, a conservative political lobbying group, spent $10.3 million despite receiving only $1.3 million in declarable donations during the reporting period. Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy company spent $1.93 million on its anti-Voice campaign. The No campaign also received a contribution of $188,356 from the Voice No Case Committee and Recognise a Better Way group led by Indigenous leader Warren Mundine and former Labor MP Gary Johns.

Former Mayors and CEOs Among Large Donors

Silver River Investment Holdings, led by former fund manager Simon Fenwick, donated $250,000 to Australians for Unity, with Mr. Fenwick also contributing an additional $250,000 in his own name. Former Newcastle mayor Jeffrey McCloy and former BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers contributed $169,176 and $100,000, respectively, to the same organization.

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