The popular pediatrician and Federal Labor PM has represented the large Macarthur electorate since the 2016 federal election.
The Australian Electoral Commission has tallied the Macarthur electorate’s 141,044 registered voters polling among the highest No votes in NSW divisions with earliest 64.79 percent latest result expected to exceed further.
Dr Freelander’s neighbouring electorate, Lindsay held by Liberal Party MP Melissa Mcintosh, is polling the highest in the Western Sydney division at nearly 70 percent No of its registered voters.
“I voted Yes as all attempts to close the gap by past Federal Governments for many decades have not worked particularly in healthcare and social matters,” Dr Freelander speaking from Canberra told the Macarthur Advocate.
“As Indigenous Australians would rank #115 in the world for healthcare access if they were considered a separate nation, whereas the rest of Australia would rank #2.
“This gap is far too large to be considered acceptable and by providing Indigenous People with a voice to Parliament, rather than the other way around as it currently is, I hoped we could close the gaps and unite the country.”
But since the Yes camp’s loss to the No campaign Dr Freelander said he “respects the outcome that occurred in Macarthur.”
“I understand that for many residents, this matter was not at the forefront of their minds nor was the messaging clear to them as to what The Voice would have been, he said.
“Macarthur was not the outlier however, with many electorates around the country with various degrees of diversity and economic outcomes showing similar results.
“There are many matters that local constituents are concerned about, including cost of living and infrastructure needs, which I am fully aware of and have not stopped focusing on, even during the referendum campaign.”
During the referendum campaign, Dr Freelander announced $22.09M funding from the Albanese government to construct a multideck 500-plus carpark at Campbelltown Station on Farrow Street as residents demand public transport infrastructure improvement for the region.
At Canberra’s following the referendum, Dr Freelander described the mood of his fellow MPs as “normal” yet also admitted “those who supported Yes are bothered by the result.”
He also said his party is aware that the Coalition opposition leader Peter Dutton is hammering out with the Liberal and Nationals MPs a counter referendum proposal that would recognise the country’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first nations people in Australia.
“I hope and believe that we will eventually be able to do so, however it will take longer than if the Voice referendum had been successful.”
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