411.3 MILLION REASONS WHY NOT

It has been revealed that Australians footed a $411.3 million bill for the Australian Electoral Commission to hold the Voice referendum last year. The revelations came in response to questioning by Senator McGrath during Senate Estimates last night.

Senator Nampijinpa Price said of the revelation, “not only do we now have confirmation of the enormous financial burden borne by the Australian public, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. The 411.3-million-dollar picture gets worse when you consider things like tax deductions and government advertising campaigns – this figure is really just the start.”

Senator Nampijinpa Price said, “Anthony Albanese was so confident that the referendum would succeed and would be his political crowning glory, that he assumed Australians wouldn’t notice the exorbitant costs they had to bear on top of the cost-of-living crisis they were facing thanks to his disastrous leadership.”

Senator McGrath said Labor had a PHD in wasting money but were dunces when it came to helping people.

The financial burden that the Albanese government placed on the public was unacceptable, but Senator Nampijinpa Price also said it was important to recall the social and emotional toll that the referendum took on Australians.

“The cost of the referendum was not simply financial. Families, neighbourhoods and workplaces were pitted against each other – everyone suffered the effects of this divisive referendum forced on them by Anthony Albanese,” said Senator Nampijinpa Price.

Senator Nampijinpa Price said the recent election and action taken by the new Queensland Liberal National Party government is an example of how money should be used as a tool in addressing Indigenous disadvantage.

“The Albanese government has a terrible track record of financial management in Indigenous affairs, and the $411.3 million wasted on the AEC to hold the referendum is just further evidence of this,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

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Media Contact (Senator Nampijinpa Price): Rebekah Hart – 0459 893 181
Media Contact (Senator McGarth): Christian Camuglia – 0477 671 926