‘Very long time in the making’: Albanese reveals Voice referendum question
An emotional Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given an impassioned plea for Australians to support the Voice as he announced the wording of the referendum question after weeks of intense debate.
The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the final wording that will be inserted into the Constitution if the vote succeeds. The Albanese government has also released significant detail about how the Voice would work after months of calls to release more information.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the members of the working group and all who had engaged with them.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The question Australians will be asked 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?”
A new clause to be inserted states: “The parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the [Voice], including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
Albanese, appearing to choke back tears multiple times, said he was privileged to be standing alongside “giants” of the Indigenous movement to try and bring the nation together.
“I want to thank sincerely all the members of the working group and all who have engaged with them,” Albanese said.
“For many … This moment has become a very long time in the making. Yet they have shown such patience and optimism through this process and that spirit of co-operation and thoughtful, respectful dialogue, has been so important at arriving at this point in such a united fashion.”
New detail approved by cabinet includes that Voice members will be elected or selected by Indigenous Australians, not appointed by the government.
It will be encouraged to advise the government early in the policymaking process. Members will have fixed terms.
Albanese, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney met six Indigenous leaders – Marcia Langton, Pat Anderson, Thomas Mayo, Tony McAvoy, former minister Ken Wyatt and professor Megan Davis – in an hours-long meeting on Tuesday evening to thrash out the final wording for the constitutional change.
More to come
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