In response to Albanese’s proposal, Coalition senator and former attorney-general Michaelia Cash warned it should not become a “vanity project”, echoing Price’s impassioned maiden speech last week.
Cash said yesterday he wanted to “see something that unites Australians and doesn’t divide them”.
“There is no consensus among Indigenous communities in relation to a voice,” Cash said, adding that Price’s speech was one of the best delivered in Australia. “She [Price] in fact, he called on the Prime Minister of Australia to listen to Indigenous voices.”
Only eight out of 44 referendums have been successful in Australia and without the support of the Coalition, the push for constitutional recognition will struggle to gain the widespread support needed for a referendum to succeed.
In a brief from the incoming government provided to Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and obtained by this column under freedom of information laws, the Attorney General’s Department said that supporting the government in meeting that commitment would be one of its ” highest priorities”.
“Prioritizing this work will signal to the country that your government is committed to working with First Nations people to deliver systemic justice,” the brief says.
The Manggalili community performs during the opening ceremony of the Garma Festival on Saturday. Credit: Getty
“However, changes to our Constitution present a significant challenge, given the historical reluctance of Australians to make changes to our founding document.”
Albanese acknowledged in his speech that a referendum was a “big hurdle to overcome”.
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“We recognize the risks of failure, but we also recognize the risk of not trying,” he said.
Geoff Scott, a Wiradjuri man and leader of the Uluru Declaration from the Heart dialogue, which is calling for constitutional change, said the wording of the question was the result of “years of discussion and debate”.
“I think he’s had the courage and the commitment to definitely put it out there to say this is going to happen and people need to get on board with him,” Scott said of Albanese’s speech.
“He’s saying that maybe these aren’t the last words. It’s the starting point for consultation with many groups.”
Albanese said a constitutional voice reflected the principles of “respect and consultation, strength and status” and created immunity from electoral cycles and the government of the day, as it “cannot be silenced”.
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He proposed three sentences to be added to the Constitution if the referendum is successful: one that enshrines the Voice; one that sets out their responsibility to make representations to parliament and the executive on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and one that empowers parliament to make laws about how the Voice would be created and how it works.
“I think the best way to build on the momentum is to resolve, as soon as possible, the question of the referendum that will be put to the people of Australia,” Mr Albanese said.
The federal government’s plan is to hold the national vote before the next election, which is expected in 2025.
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