Rowan Ramsey (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On the weekend, 60.59 per cent of Australians voted to keep Australia united. They voted against the referendum proposal. In South Australia, 64.6 per cent voted no. In my electorate of Grey, 78.4 per cent voted no. There have been 44 referendums in Australia's history prior to this one. Eight have been successful. None have passed without bipartisan support. One would ask the question why the Prime Minister decided to plough ahead regardless on a referendum which has undoubtedly divided Australia. I note more division in the community at the moment than I've seen in perhaps two or three decades. It will take some time to bring us all back together.

But I don't think there's much doubt the Prime Minister sought not to reach a bipartisan position. I think he saw this as a political opportunity, looking at the polls—65 to 35—and thought, 'What could possibly go wrong?' He never reached out to the coalition to find that common ground.

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