The word “no” appeared in the sky above Melbourne on Tuesday.
A skywriter wrote the word a number of times above the Melbourne CBD about 12:30pm.
A group opposing same-sex marriage claimed responsibility for the stunt and are reportedly the same activists who crowdfunded to pay for the words “Vote No” to be written in the sky above Sydney in September.
Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale slammed the message on social media on Tuesday, tweeting: “This is not what Melbourne is about. We will #ChooeseLove and #VoteYes. Love is love.”
Social media users also took to Twitter to point out the anti-equality message was a little bit unclear:
Our 4yo wanted to know why someone was writing ON in the St Kilda sky. #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/z9ETYTiXPm
— Myke Bartlett (@mykebartlett) October 10, 2017
Another "No" in the sky in Melbourne. I presume they are referring to no more nuclear weapons. Nice!
— Danske (@Danske_) October 10, 2017
Thanks to whoever got a skywriter to write "Oz" over Melbourne today, appreciate it pic.twitter.com/F8nQfO32sU
— Osman Faruqi (@oz_f) October 10, 2017
Seen in the sky above #Melbourne. Is it ON? #auspol pic.twitter.com/wguiJqooR1
— Matt Akersten (@MattAkersten) October 10, 2017
No side spent a week complaining about a song at a football event but can't realise why people are offended by skywriting they can't avoid https://t.co/TBbbCpbOBJ
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) October 10, 2017
Some other Melburnians took the liberty of finishing the design:
It’s finished. pic.twitter.com/Fn2Itb5Mfu
— everyone🗳YES🏳️🌈 (@ozbluey) October 10, 2017
It’s ok – it’s just a typo. I autocorrected it! pic.twitter.com/6bIb458Kjx
— breakinlogic (@breakinlogic) October 10, 2017
Fixed it for you. pic.twitter.com/kH41cDGJzM
— Richard Ogley (@rogley8) October 10, 2017
Fixed it! #VoteYes ❤️🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/gLmX3Qjbfm
— VicEO+HumanRights (@VEOHRC) October 10, 2017
Others were determined to figure out who was behind it:
Noticeably better technique for this skywriting compared to last time. Only one person on the "no" campaign has penmanship this good. pic.twitter.com/2bkku0qNYM
— Luke Miller (@dodgyville) October 10, 2017
But, others pointed out, the skywriter’s efforts ended up a little bit futile:
So is this to counter all the rainbows the sky's been throwing out there? 🌈 pic.twitter.com/BpNbR9Wns6
— Andrew Lund (@andrew_lund) October 10, 2017
No one tell Abbott but think MCG is voting yes. @womeninsportau @jasonballau @GirlsPlayFooty @ChicksTlknFooty @RedfernMichelle @reanda26 pic.twitter.com/0vISCEoeKm
— SBM🐶 (@BarasMiller) September 29, 2017
