What we learned today, Wednesday 4 October
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
Yes23 deleted a social media post after the Australian Electoral Commission warned of “disappointing” tick and cross “confusion”.
Elise Archer resigned from the Tasmanian parliament, ending a stalemate that could have led to an early election.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has warned to “be prepared for a horror summer” as the Bega fire was downgraded.
An emergency flood warning was issued for the Macalister River near Lake Glenmaggie in Victoria.
A review of the visa system has urged a crackdown to stop “grotesque abuses” of temporary migrants.
Coalition senator Bridget McKenzie has asked what will replace fuel excise when EVs become dominant.
One backpacker was injured in a Darlinghurst hostel fire which started after a battery explosion.
Dozens of Qantas flights were cancelled in Western Australia due to a pilots’ strike.
Coles and Woolworths workers are set to strike on Saturday over “poverty wages”.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow morning.
Updated
‘Vote yes because no leads nowhere’: the powerful plea from Uluru
The Northern Territory’s Central Land Council has made a powerful plea for Australians to support the Indigenous voice referendum, spelling out a large “yes” in the foreground of Uluru today.
The CLC – “the elected grass-roots representatives of remote communities in Central Australia” – met today, again backing the yes vote. Numerous CLC members were also delegates and contributors to the constitutional convention processes that led to the Uluru statement from the heart, calling for a voice.
YES! Central Land Council! pic.twitter.com/aqFfVkuqxr
— Professor Dr Megan Davis (@mdavisqlder) October 4, 2023
“I was here six years ago, when we invited Australians to join us on a journey towards voice, treaty and truth-telling,” said the CLC delegate and Uluru traditional owner Sammy Wilson.
“Our council overwhelmingly voted yes this morning because we know that when decision-makers listen to our voices we end up with policies that help us, not harm us, and money is spent wisely.”
The CLC chair, Matthew Palmer, called the voice “our best hope in generations to turn our lives around”.
“It won’t come again in my lifetime, and I ask to you all to write yYes for all our children when you go into that voting booth,” he said.
In a post on its Facebook page, the CLC wrote: “Coming full circle: today our delegates cast their votes at the birthplace of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Vote Yes because No leads nowhere!”
Updated
