Andrew Bolt says Anthony Albanese should QUIT over failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum – as Australia votes No
- Firebrand commentators call for Albanese’s resignation
- Labor was resoundingly defeated in the referendum
- READ MORE: Voice to Parliament fails
Andrew Bolt has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to resign after he was handed a resounding defeat in the Voice to Parliament referendum.
The conservative Sky News commentator urged Mr Albanese to step down from the prime ministership on Saturday night, with at least five of the six states – including Victoria – voting No.
‘I just wonder now how Anthony Albanese can stay on as prime minister,’ Bolt said – adding at one point that he ‘should go’.
‘I mean he’s put us through this nightmare. He’s wasted nearly $400 million worth of taxpayer’s money (on the referendum).’
Sky News’ Andrew Bolt has called for Anthony Albanese to resign after a resounding defeat in the Voice to Parliament referendum, which he says had divided the country
The Yes campaign lost the referendum within 90 minutes of polls closing all states except West Australia
Bolt said the result was ‘marvellous’. ‘I think Australians have seen through the falsehoods of the Yes campaign.’
Fellow conservative commentator Prue MacSween joined in on the call for Mr Albanese’s resignation, suggesting he ‘consider his future as PM’ after large numbers of Labor voters turned on the PM.
Ms MacSween said that if Mr Albanese did not resign then Labor would not stand a chance in future elections.
‘He may want to tough it out. To think it will be business as usual, but Anthony Albanese must consider his future as PM,’ she wrote.
‘If he doesn’t, many voters will. Big numbers of Labor seats have voted NO.
‘They have rejected his judgement, his despicable con on the Australian people, the fact he showed us all disdain, refused to explain detail [and] treated us all with contempt.’
Mr Albanese addressed reporters after the referendum failed and renewed his promise to continue fighting for the rights of Indigenous Australians.
‘While tonight’s result is not one that I had hoped for, I absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process that has delivered it,’ he said.
‘When we reflect on everything hapepning in the world today we can all give thanks that we make the decisions peacefully, and as equals.
‘We argued for this change not out of convenience but from conviction, because that’s what people deserve from their government.
‘When you do the hard things, when you aim high, sometimes you fall short. And tonight we acknowledge, understand and respect that we have. As prime minister, I will always accept responsibility for the decisions I have taken, and I do so tonight.’
Prue MacSween said that if Mr Albanese did not resign then voters would kick him out of the job in the next election
Commentators announced that the referendum had lost within 90 minutes of polls closing before adding that both a majority of states and a majority of Australians voted No
In the 90 minutes after polls closed in all states and territories except Western Australia, ABC has called New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria as voting No.
The Yes campaign failed to garner either majority needed for the referendum to pass.
A majority of states and a majority of Australians voted No within two-and-a-half hours of the polls closing.