Cape York Weekly FREE – #155 | Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Editor Matt Nicholls: 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
REFERENDUM TO SHAPE FUTURE
History BILLFISH in the BONANZA making By MATT NICHOLLS
CAPE York residents will have the chance to shape history on Saturday as the nation prepares to vote on whether to alter the constitution. Those entering the polling booths will be presented with this: A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration? Voters will be simply asked to write Yes or No in a box. The October 14 ballot is the first referendum to be staged in 24 years and every vote matters. For this referendum to be successful, the Yes vote will require more than 50 per cent of the national vote and at least four of the six states to be in the majority. History is against change. There have been 44 referendums and
only eight times have Australians voted to alter the constitution. There is also a concern from the Yes camp that the national vote may win on Saturday, but the states will be split down the middle. Previously, there have been five instances where a national Yes vote has been achieved, but there wasn’t a majority among the states. Experts are predicting that South Australia will be a key state in determining the outcome of this referendum. Closer to home, Cape York’s voting booths are expected to have a higher than average Yes vote due to the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents. Many leaders have declined to declare their position, concerned about polarising their constituents. FULL COVERAGE INSIDE Remote resident upset: Page 10 Referendum wrap: Page 11 Entsch says “No”: Page 12 Senator voting “Yes”: Page 13
Members of the Weipa Billfish Club are still smiling following another successful tournament over the long weekend. Every boat captured and tagged at least one billfish and some even ran out of tags due to the huge numbers. Pictured is Darren Lee with a beaut sailfish he raised. Event coverage – Pages 20 & 21
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