Albo breaks over Voice
AUSTRALIANS have found out what they will be asked at the referendum for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and how the constitution would be changed to enshrine the advisory body.
Anthony Albanese had tears in his eyes as he revealed the wording of the referendum question and proposed constitutional amendment in an emotional press conference on Thursday, after months of consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.
Speaking at Parliament House, the Prime Minister made an impassioned plea to Australians to support the Voice and confirmed the body would be able to advise executive government as well as federal parliament if the referendum were successful.
Flanked by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Indigenous leaders including Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney and academics Megan Davis and Marcia Langton, Mr Albanese choked up as he released the wording.
Australians will be asked: “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?”
If a majority of Australians vote in favour of the Voice, the Constitution would be amended as follows:
1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
2. 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;
3. 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.
Federal cabinet approved the wording on Thursday morning after Mr Albanese received a final proposal the previous night from the referendum working group which has been debating the amendment to be put to Australians.
The wording of the question and the proposed constitutional amendment will be put to federal parliament next week before the referendum towards the end of the year.
Mr Albanese said the constitutional provisions would enshrine the two “fundamental” and simple principles of recognition and consultation.
“First; recognition. As Australians, we have an extraordinary privilege we share this great island continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture and the nation should recognise this and be proud of it,” he said.
Mr Albanese said the principle of consultation was “not a radical notion”.
“(It’s) a sensible and practical proposition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have a say in the decisions and policies that affect them,” he said.