KEY POINTS:
- Australians still don't know the date of the Voice referendum.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he won't announce the date at the Garma Festival.
- Albanese used last year's festival to reveal the draft question.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he'll call the Voice referendum date much closer to the poll, warning Australians "don't appreciate" long election campaigns.
It had been widely anticipated that Albanese would announce the date at the Garma Festival next month, having used last year's event to unveil his draft question.
But speaking to Sky News on Monday, he all but ruled out revealing the date at Garma while reiterating that Australians will head to the polls "between October and December".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the draft referendum question at last year's Garma Festival. Source: AAP / Aaron Bunch
"And I don't think that Australians appreciate very long campaigns. That's been the case in the past. So I don't envisage at this time announcing the date at Garma."
The prime minister said this year's festival would include an "element of sadness" after, which he said would be a major focus.
Anthony Albanese denies Yes camp is set for defeat
Newspoll this week found 49 per cent of respondents intending to vote against the Voice, 41 per cent planning to vote Yes, and the remainder undecided.
The poll continues a downward trend for the Yes campaign, support for which has deteriorated since high points this time last year.
But Albanese continued to claim the remaining months, including the release of official 'Yes' and 'No' pamphlets on Tuesday, would dramatically shift the race's dynamic.
The prime minister insisted Australians would "start to focus" just before the referendum is held, and stressed there is "a while to go yet".
"There's been a considerable No campaign already that is out there just trying to sow doubt. The Yes campaign needs to be stronger in putting the case," Albanese said.
"I've had a look at the Yes case in the pamphlet that will go out. I think it's a very strong case ... I believe it will make a substantial difference."
Every Australian household is set to receive a 2000-word essay outlining the official 'Yes' and 'No' arguments at least two weeks before the vote.
Labor was initially hesitant to have the pamphlets but eventually agreed to them in order to pass an update to Australia's referendum laws.
