Mayo said he was not angry at voters as he believed the Australian public was ready for the Voice, but No campaigners should wear the blame for “horrible campaigning”.

“I think they were ready, but there has been some really horrible political campaigning from Peter Dutton and his No campaign. It’s been disgusting, to be frank,” he said.

A disappointing result, but the government will respect it: Albanese

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that while the referendum result was not the one he had hoped for, Australians should be proud that such democratic decisions were made peacefully.

“At the outset, I want to say that while tonight’s result is not one that I had hoped for, I absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process that has delivered it,” he said.

Speaking from Parliament House in Canberra, Albanese said when the sun rose after the referendum result, it must beckon in a new way forward on improving Indigenous outcomes.

When you do the hard things, when you aim high, sometimes you fall short

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Tonight we acknowledge, understand and respect that we have. As prime minister, I will always accept responsibility for the decisions I have taken, and I do so tonight.”

Becoming emotional, Albanese said he was honoured to have met many remarkable Indigenous Australians who put their heart into the cause. To them, he said: “Maintain your hope and know that you are loved.”

Coalition says a No win is good for the country

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the majority of Australians would be pleased to see the referendum defeated.

“It is clear, obviously, that the referendum has not been successful, and I think that is good for our country,” he said.

“What we’ve seen tonight is Australians literally in their millions reject the prime minister’s divisive referendum.”

Dutton said that should the Coalition win the next election, it would hold a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities, and an audit of spending on Indigenous programs.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says time for a new era in Indigenous policy

Coalition indigenous affairs spokeswoman and leading No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said Australians said No to the Yes campaigns “lying, bullying, to the manipulation” and rejected the Voice.

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Asked whether Indigenous leaders who have spent years campaigning for a Voice should step aside, Price said it was time for a “new era in Indigenous policy”.

“Attempting to bring about change through grievance has evidently got us nowhere,” she said.

“I think it is time to recognise that if you have been able to rebut the outcomes that you have
seemingly been working for, then obviously it has not worked. It is time for a change.”

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