The Nationals’ decision not to support the Indigenous Voice has put a big spanner in the works for a referendum on recognition in the constitution.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud during Question Time at Parliament House.
It is one of Anthony Albanese’s biggest priorities for 2023 – and a major element of the legacy Labor wants to leave from government – but advocates have long argued the fraught politics of referendums mean the plan will only succeed through a unified message of support from political leaders. Price and Littleproud believe there isn’t enough detail on the final model for the Voice. But they objected to the plan anyway on the grounds it wouldn’t represent Indigenous Australians outside the capital cities.
The scale of the challenge is immense. This week’s Closing the Gap report showed only four priority areas are on track, including healthy birth weights, preschool enrolment, youth detention rates and land holdings. The change meant the federal government could make laws relevant to Indigenous communities. A resounding 90.77 per cent voted in favour of the plan, the highest “yes” vote recorded, and every state and territory recorded majority support.
Advocates welcome the prospect of Indigenous people being included in the lawmaking process, and say the Voice will add to efforts to address structural disadvantage. A co-design process chaired by Professors Marcia Langton and Tom Calma released its final report in July 2021. It said the Voice should have a two-part structure – a local and regional arm, and a national arm.
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