Zoe Daniel (Goldstein, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Goldstein for Yes grew from the heart of our community, a broad coalition of citizens of varied political stripes and cultures. The purpose of the group was to stand with our First Nations people to inform and deliver a 'yes' vote at the Voice referendum, while celebrating the values of respect, fairness and unity. Solid campaigning over 16 weeks across the Goldstein electorate saw over 500 volunteers—ranging in age from Harrison, who's 10, to Martin, who's in his 90s—deliver 285 community engagement events and activities, including street meets, leafletting at train stations and markets, doorknocking and kitchen table conversations. In addition to this there were more than 1,500 'yes' fence signs on display, and over one five-day period 62,000 leaflets were letterboxed by our volunteers.

During the campaign, Bunurong and Boonwurrung elders of the Kulin nations, which take in the lands and waters of Goldstein, told me they wanted me and us to vote yes. On the weekend, the people of Goldstein accepted that respectful request. The national result differs—and that's democracy—but in Goldstein, even when our views and votes have differed, we've come out stronger and better as a community for having actively participated in this important moment in history together.

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