The divisive group spearheading the "no" campaign against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament is seeking to raise half a million dollars by the end of March to thwart the threat from "woke activists".
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Hard-right activist group Advance Australia is appealing to its supporters to donate $500,000 in the lead up to Voice referendum, which it says will be topped up by an additional $250,000 from financial backer Simon Renwick.
Australians will vote in a referendum in the second half of the year to decide whether to enshrine the voice and recognise Indigenous people in the constitution.
The Albanese government has introduced legislation to change how referendums are carried out in a bid to make the process similar to federal elections.
NT Country Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a former spokesperson for Advance Australia, on Monday said the Coalition would oppose any changes to the process unless the federal government could guarantee equal funding for both the "yes" and "no" campaigns.
In an email to supporters on Tuesday morning, Advance Australia's executive director Matthew Sheahan announced the snap donation drive in order to pay for its media advertisements against the Voice.
"Albo's Voice will divide Aussies along the lines of race and enshrine race into our Constitution," the group says on its website.
"It will be run by woke activists who think climate change is the biggest threat to remote communities.
"It will be used as a Trojan horse by the woke-left to take power away from Australian voters and hand it to unelected activists and bureaucrats who hate this country and your vision for it."
It follows the launch of the group's official "no" to the Voice wing, Fair Australia, last month, which it describes as a "grassroots movement".
Led by outspoken "no" campaigner, Senator Nampijinpa Price, the group has labelled the Indigenous Voice to Parliament as "divisive, dangerous, expensive and not fair".
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Advance Australia's previous attempts to influence elections have been dubious with the group spending $2.6 million last financial year on scare campaigns against left-leaning candidates but failing to re-elect conservative picks, such as former ACT senator Zed Seselja.
The group has so far spent $90,000 on Facebook advertising in the last 90 days, most of which is related to the Voice.
The Canberra Times has contacted Advance Australia to ask how much it's raised so far as part of its efforts against the Voice.
A Voice civics education and awareness program is being rolled out to the tune of $9.5 million in order to provide voters with more information.
Marcus Stewart, a member for the Voice referendum working group, said the Coalition's call for equal funding was "not reasonable" and was playing politics.
"The Coalition's demands for changes to the referendum machinery legislation are not reasonable... they are unreasonable. Once again, we are witness to a thinly veiled attempt to cast doubt in the minds of Australian voters," Mr Stewart said on Tuesday.
"Access to factual information will be key to the success of the referendum and the Albanese government is playing their part by ensuring every voter can access this information through the civics education program.
"This tactic from the Coalition is evidence they are playing political games."
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