Doorstop Interview - Cottesloe Beach Curtin Electorate

Yes23 community rally with Kate Chaney MP, the date announcement for the referendum, support for the Yes Campaign in Western Australia, WA Cultural Heritage Act, the No Campaign sells a lousy product.

PATRICK GORMAN: I want to start by thanking the volunteers. Nine hundred people, here at Cottesloe. and they're not just here for the photo, they're here to go and knock on doors across Western Australia to have those conversations.

Forty-five days. Thousands of volunteers. Millions of Australians having their say. One simple answer: Yes. Because we can get this done. This is the time for the Australian people. The debates have been had in the Parliament. We've heard all sorts of information. But now it's over to the people of Australia to have their say, and have their say on a very simple proposition. Should we recognise the First Nations in our Constitution?

VOLUNTEERS: Yes!

GORMAN: Should we listen?

VOLUNTEERS: Yes!

GORMAN: And do we want better results?

VOLUNTEERS: Yes!

GORMAN: It's as simple as that. That's what we're putting forward at this referendum. And I say, as the Prime Minister said, this morning, let's not close the door on this opportunity. Let's not close the door on this once in a lifetime opportunity to write the next chapter. Not just to write the next chapter of our Constitution, but to write the next chapter of Australia's story. Because if we open the door for constitutional recognition, we know better results come about from listening. And we know that on the 15th of October, when we all wake up, we'll be proud of what we've done to come together as a nation. This referendum will bring people together. It cuts across political lines, cuts across sporting codes. It's actually about bringing Australians together. That's what we've done today. That's what we're going to do for the next 45 days. And I'm very confident that Western Australians, when they're asked on the 14th of October, will have a loud and resounding...

VOLUNTEERS: Yes!

GORMAN: ... to constitutional recognition.

JOURNALIST: Just on the Cultural Heritage Act, do you think that has at all jeopardised your support in WA?

GORMAN: This conversation has been going for so long. It was Prime Minister John Howard who first suggested that would be the right thing to do to recognise our first Australians in the Constitution. It was was Prime Ministers Abbott and Turnbull, who got the process moving. We've seen this report delivered to Prime Minister Turnbull. Who I'll note, Prime Minister Turnbull, on the other side of the country in Sydney today was out there saying that voting Yes will bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice. This is something that has stood so long, it is not connected to anything that is happening in the State Parliament now or in the past. And I would just note, and I want to thank Roger Cook and his team for their support of Yes. And I'd also note that I've been out this week with Julie Bishop, former Member for this electorate. She's voting Yes. Ken Wyatt's voting Yes. I'm pretty sure everyone here is voting Yes.

VOLUNTEERS: Yes!

GORMAN: It cuts across political divides, and it's much bigger than any one individual based in the State Parliament.

JOURNALIST: Because what can you say to those who say, who argue that the Voice isn't enough? That it won't do enough?

GORMAN: I say to those; if you're not sure, find out more. Simple as that. If you're not sure, find out more. There's a lot of people who are happy to knock on your door and give you the information that will give you the confidence that this will change things. Because the products that the No campaign is selling are lousy. They're selling more of the same. And I don't think really when you sit down and think about it, more of the same is a reflection of what Australians want. Australians want things to be better. They want us to listen. They want to recognise our First Nations in the Constitution, and we all want better results. That's what this referendum offers.

VOLUNTEERS: Here, here!

GORMAN: Let's go knock some doors!