‘Yes’ Campaign Outspent ‘No’ by 2:1 in Referendum to Change the Constitution

In total, more than $80 million was spent by various groups trying to convince voters to support or oppose the proposal, which was eventually rejected 60:40.

'Vote NO' campaign signage is seen outside a polling centre in Perth, Australia, on Oct. 7, 2023. Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Six months after the proposal to give Indigenous Australians a Voice to Parliament was defeated 60:40 in a referendum, the Australian Electoral Commission has revealed who backed the “Yes” and “No” campaigns, with the former spending more than double the amount compared to the latter.

In total, the Yes campaign spent nearly $55 million (US$35.8 million) on the referendum, while No campaign groups spent more than $25 million (US$16.27 million).