THE VOICE REFERENDUM:
Former prime minister John Howard is believed to be under medical supervision at his Sydney home after abruptly cancelling all of his planned public and media appearances as part of the “no” campaign against the First Nations’ voice to federal parliament.
It is understood 84-year-old Mr Howard was to have spoken at numerous rallies around the nation and conduct a coast-to-coast media “blitz” in coming weeks to lend support to the anti-voice campaign.
But this morning after a coughing and choking fit during a street walk in North Sydney he has cancelled any further involvement in the campaign.
The incident happened immediately after an interaction with a member of the public who identified himself as Elliott Snurd. (below)
Mr Snurd told reporters that he had approached Mr Howard to show him some keepsakes he had held since the 1967 referendum.
“I was just six when the 1967 referendum was held and was waiting in line at a local polling station with my parents behind Mr Howard who was then a young solicitor but also pretty well known locally,” Mr Snurd said.
“My dad used his Kodak Box Brownie to take a photo of me and mum just behind Mr Howard’s right shoulder. (main picture)
“Inside the polling station I waited for my parents to vote and happened to see Mr Howard leave a voting booth and unknowingly drop a piece of paper. I walked over to pick it up and tried to make sense of it, then ran after him with it. But he was gone.
“I pocketed the paper and for years didn’t really understand that it was actually his referendum ballot paper.
“I did see him put something in a ballot box before he left the polling station and I suspect he mistakenly put his how-to-vote card in there.”
Mr Snurd said he had put the ballot paper away and thought no more about it until he heard Mr Howard would be in his neighbourhood today for a street walk.
“I thought I’d take along the photo my dad took and the ballot paper just to show Mr Howard,” he explained.
“I thought he’d get a real kick out of it seeing the 1967 and this year’s referendums are both about First Nations’ recognition. He liked the photo but I didn’t expect his reaction when he saw his old ballot paper.
“He grabbed it out of my hands and immediately tried to eat it. That’s when he started coughing and choking and had to be rushed away. I do hope he’s OK,” Mr Snurd said.
Asked if he recalled what marking was on the ballot paper, Mr Snurd replied: “No. I can’t.”
A spokesperson from Mr Howard’s office said the long-serving Liberal Party PM had decided not to appear at any further “no” campaign events between now and referendum day.
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