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Cathy Freeman has made a rare appearance on social media to issue a plea ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum.
The former Olympian appeared in a video endorsing the Yes23 Campaign, weeks out from voting day.
“I can’t remember a time when change has felt so urgent, where momentum has been so strong,” she said in the video.
“From small towns to big cities, something is in the air. I know all Australians feel it too.”
Freeman urged voters to be part of something that “brings people together”.
“Right now, each of us can be part of something that really matters,” she said.
“To stand together and to show our support for Australians who need it the most.
“To recognise Indigenous people in our constitution for the very first time, to give our kids the very best start in life, an equal start in life.”
The 400-metre gold medalist sprinter concluded the promotional video with a call to action, pleading with Australians to “open our hearts and change our future”.
“I’m voting yes and I’m asking that all Australians do too,” she said.
“So please stand with me and write Yes on October 14.”
Freeman is the latest prominent Australian figure to throw their support behind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Voice to Parliament.
Actress Cate Blanchett, rock band Midnight Oil and iconic singer John Farnham are some of the names who have publicly backed the proposed constitutional reform.
It comes after a significant weekend for the Yes campaign, which saw an estimated 200,000 supporters joining the Walk for Yes events across the nation.
Voters will decide on enshrining an independent advisory body into the constitution on October 14.
The body, comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, would advise the government and executive on matters and policies impacting them.
Voters will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a single question. The question on the ballot paper will be:
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
More details on the upcoming referendum can be found here.
