Pacific Islands Forum head says yes vote on Indigenous voice would ‘elevate Australia’ on world stage

Henry Puna says a yes vote on the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum would increase Australia’s credibility ‘on the international stage’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA

Australia’s credibility will be boosted on the world stage if the yes vote wins the looming Indigenous voice referendum, a senior Pacific leader says.

Henry Puna, the head of the Pacific Islands Forum, said on Wednesday that while he respected the country’s right to make its own democratic decision, it would be “wonderful to see Australia vote yes”.