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Good morning!
Tomorrow, the country will officially vote on whether or not to enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.
It’s been a long and often noisy campaign, and at TDA, we’ve tried our best to cut through that noise to deliver clear and important information.
Here are some of our resources to share with friends ahead of the vote:
- Our three-part video series called ‘Understanding the Voice’. You can start with Episode 1 here.
- Our special podcast series called ‘The Voice Explained’. Today’s episode is a chat with two First Nations journalists.
- Our Voice Hub, with answers to some of the frequently asked questions from our audience.
Take care and we’ll keep you up to date on the weekend’s results over on Instagram.
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
"Words matter. [We've] seen direct connections between inflamed language and inflamed community tensions." - Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Mike Burgess, in a statement on the war in Israel and Gaza.
The stat
$US28.9 billion
The amount the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says Microsoft owes in unpaid taxes – around $AU45 billion. Microsoft disagrees with the IRS' findings and has flagged it may go to court over the dispute.
Today in history
2016: Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Australia’s consumer watchdog has fined Tesla $155,000 over alleged safety breaches. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission claimed Tesla failed to conduct required safety tests on some of its button battery-powered products, including three of its key fobs. Tesla cooperated with the ACCC and has agreed to improve its safety standards for button batteries.
Queensland has introduced draft laws to regulate the use of e-scooters. The proposal would extend the current rules for using an e-scooter on the road to include footpaths and bike paths. It means riding carelessly or not paying attention on a shared path will become an offence, with Queenslanders warned that “significant penalties” will apply for irresponsible riders.
I've got 1 minute
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is chartering three for Australians needing to come home from Israel or Gaza. It is also working with partners to support those who can’t reach Tel Aviv. You do not need to pay to get on the flights.
To register yourself for those flights, call +61 2 6261 3305, 24/7.
If you're in Australia and calling on someone's behalf, call 1300 555 135, 24/7.
You can also register at crisis.dfat.gov.au/crisisportal/s/.
If you or someone you know is unable to get to the airport in Tel Aviv, you can also call the above numbers.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has said there may be further flights coming as well.
Any Australian citizens, permanent residents, or family members of Australians are encouraged to register with DFAT.
I've got 2 minutes
Voters will be handed a ballot paper to vote in the referendum on Saturday.
You will be asked to clearly write 'YES' or 'NO' in the box next to the question.
It should be written in full (e.g. not 'Y' or 'N'), in English, and inside the box on the ballot paper.
The two most correct ways to vote is by writing either ‘YES’ or ‘NO’.
How to vote:
Voting can be done with a pen or pencil, and in upper or lower case.
Writing a 'tick' (✔︎) symbol on a ballot will be considered a 'Yes' vote. However, a cross (✘) won't be considered a valid vote. This is based on legal advice the AEC received.
Voters who make a mistake on their ballot can be given a new one.
Completed ballot papers are then placed into a sealed box.
Polling places:
Polling places will be open from 8am to 6pm on Saturday.
Schools and community centres are common polling places. A full guide of voting centres is available at aec.gov.au/referendums.
Before voting, you'll be given a ballot paper from an Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) official. They'll be dressed in purple.
They will ask for your full name, address, and if you've already voted.
When will we know the result?
The AEC says an unofficial result could be announced on the night, depending on how close it is.
However, the official result can only be declared once it is mathematically certain and the mandatory second count has taken place.
On the night, every vote cast that day will be counted, as well as the large majority of votes cast at early voting centres.
Give me some good news
The A-League Women’s season starts tomorrow.
ALW newcomers Central Coast Mariners will kick off the new season on Saturday afternoon against Newcastle, before Matildas star Cortnee Vine and her Sydney FC teammates play the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Matches will be streamed on Paramount+ and Network Ten.
A message from our sponsor
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Sounding familiar? It’s throwing us right back to the golden era of RNB. Lucky for us, FRIDAYZ is here - it is without a doubt the greatest dance floor and karaoke session you’ll ever have. FRIDAYZ – powered by Macca’s is touring around Australia next month, and you’ll be seeing us there.
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With the dulcet MC tones of Fatman Scoop and Abbie Chatfield taking you on the journey, this will be a gig to remember. All the tour and ticket information at fridayz.live. If you’re as passionate about clocking off for the weekend as we are, snap up your tickets now.
A TDA tidbit
Australian comedian Hamish Blake has found himself in hot water after claiming on his podcast that he could be a competent GP for a day.
On last week’s episode of the ‘Hamish & Andy’ podcast, the Gold Logie winner and his co-hosts discussed the highest-paying job they could do competently for one day, with Blake saying he thought he “could get through one day of being a GP”.
“I say this with the greatest respect to this profession… I think I have enough general medical knowledge, I do a lot of googling medical issues, and I’ve got now 20 years of going to the GP.”
Dr Amanda Cohn, a former GP who is now a NSW Greens MP, responded to Blake’s claim in Parliament.
“This statement is as ridiculous as thinking that being a frequent flyer equips you with the skills to fly an aircraft… If he thinks that his GP's job is easy, then he is privileged to have either excellent health or an excellent GP who makes extraordinary work look easy.”
Blake apologised to GPs on this week’s podcast.
“Here’s how I look at it: they took an oath to do no harm. I broke their oath on them. And for those doctors who heard that and were hurt, I’m very sorry.”
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The Daily Aus acknowledges the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.