John Farnham lends hit song You're The Voice to Yes campaign: 'I hope it can change the lives of our First Nations people for the better'

John Farnham is officially backing Australia’s Yes campaign in support of giving an Indigenous voice to Parliament.

The singer, 74, has provided his iconic song You’re The Voice for an official campaign ad.

‘This song changed my life. I can only hope that it now might help, in some small way, to change the lives of our First Nations people for the better,’ he said in a statement.

Tim Wheatley, the son of Farnham’s manager Glenn Wheatley, added: ‘Win or lose this referendum, this song will forever remain on the right side of history.’

The ad featuring Farnham’s song shows a family watching historic Australian moments on a television, including Cathy Freeman winning gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as You’re The Voice blasts. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday that the referendum will be held on October 14.

Australia’s last referendum was held 24 years ago in 1999 to decide whether the country should become a republic.

The referendum will enshrine in the constitution an indigenous voice to Parliament, aimed at giving Aboriginal Australians a direct role in the country’s political decisions. 

Mr Albanese has long maintained confidence that the referendum would succeed despite opinion polls showing marginal majority support for the Voice waning in recent months as the public debate has become more heated and divisive. 

‘I think people will begin to focus more. I expect that many Australians won’t focus until the last few weeks,’ Albanese told reporters. ‘A majority of Australians will come to an answer that there’s nothing to lose here, only upside.’

The singer, 74, has provided his iconic song You’re The Voice for an official campaign ad

The ad shows a family watching historical Australian moments on a television, including Cathy Freeman winning gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as You’re The Voice blasts

The Yes campaign will need a majority of Australians and a majority in at least four of the six states in order to succeed. Only eight of 44 referendums have succeeded in Australia’s 122 year history – all with bipartisan support.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will deliver 13million information pamphlets to Australian households over the next few weeks.

‘From aged care facilities to suburban homes, from outback stations, to high-rise apartments, we’re working with Australia Post to deliver the pamphlets right around the country,’ Australian electoral officer Nye Coffey said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday the referendum will be held on October 14 

Yes campaigner Noel Pearson said South Australia’s vote would be crucial to ensure the Yes campaign wins a majority in at least four of six states.

Warren Mundine, a No campaigner, said the final push would be ‘a real battle for the hearts and minds of the Australian public out there’.

The latest polls have support for the Voice slumping in every state, and according to the latest Newspoll surveys the ‘Yes’ vote is ahead in only SA and NSW.

The votes are evenly split in Victoria, while the ‘No’ vote is leading in WA, Queensland, and Tasmania.