This morning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed wording of the question that will be voted on in this year’s referendum, that if approved would warrant an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.
Photo credit: Les Haines
This morning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed wording of the question that will be voted on in this year’s referendum, that if approved would warrant an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.
The question all Australians will be asked at this year’s referendum is:
“A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
The provisions that Australians will be voting to approve are as follows:
“In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
PM Albanese said the form of words chosen would “gain the strongest possible support” from the people of Australia.
“This moment has been a very long time in the making,” PM Albanese said.
“[The members of the working group] have shown such patience and optimism through this process. That spirit of cooperation and thoughtful, respectful dialogue has been so important at arriving at this point in such a united fashion.”
PM Albanese said if approved, the amendments to the Constitution will help government and parliament make better decisions and achieve better outcomes, whilst ensuring recognition and consultation with Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“As Australians, we have extraordinary privilege - we share this great island continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture,” he said.
“Our nation’s birth certificate should recognise this and be proud of it.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have a say in the decisions and policies that affect their lives, not just because it’s common courtesy and decency to ask people before you take a decision that will have an impact on them but because when you reach out and listen to communities, you get better results.
“This is about closing the gap and showing respect to First Nations People.”
Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said PM Albanese and the Government had listened ‘respectfully, genuinely, authentically’ to the dialogues of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Today, we must pause and reflect on this historic achievement,” she said.
“We asked [the Australian people] to hear our call that retail Australian politics [and] political tribalism means that things never change in our communities,
“This is about the right to be consulted on laws and policies that are made about our communities, to be heard on laws and policies about our lives.”
Minister Burney said a protected and enshrined Voice to the Parliament would be “meaningful, Constitutional recognition”.
“It is symbolic recognition and substantial recognition,” she said.
“We implore all Australians to unite behind us and walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”
Comments