‘We’re all in’, declares an emotional Albanese as he launches the wording for the Voice referendum

Michelle Grattan writes in The Conversation (23.3.23) about the Prime Minister’s announcement that the wording of the referendum question on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has been decided.

‘An emotional Anthony Albanese, flanked by members of the referendum working group, has released the final proposed wording of the question to be put to Australians to incorporate an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.

‘Despite pressure from conservative lawyers to build in stronger protections against legal challenges under a future Voice, in particular in relation to its interaction with the public service, only tweaking has been undertaken to the original wording released by the prime minister at the Garma festival last year.

‘The question of potential legal challenge is contested by constitutional experts, with some strongly arguing there is no problem.

‘In a simply worded question, Australians will be asked to approve altering the Constitution “to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice”.’

Peter Dutton confirms Liberals will oppose Indigenous voice to parliament

Josh Butler reports in The Guardian (4.4.23) on Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s announcement that the federal Liberal Party will not support the proposed Indigenous voice to parliament.

‘The Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, will actively campaign against the Indigenous voice referendum, directing his frontbench to oppose the proposal. Dutton has instead proposed symbolic recognition in the constitution and a legislated voice, both suggestions which have long been rejected by Indigenous communities and the Uluru statement from the heart.

‘The opposition leader claimed the proposal advanced by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, based on years of consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, would not deliver positive results.

‘“We have been clear we don’t support his Canberra voice. It is divisive and won’t deliver the outcomes to people on the ground,” Dutton claimed.

‘The Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, accused Dutton of “tying himself in knots”, alleging the decision was made by Dutton to secure his leadership in a tense party room after the historic Aston byelection loss.’

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