The Liberal Party has called on the government to lay out “serious detail” on a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament after Linda Burney revealed the country could go to a referendum as early as August.
Under the proposed constitutional amendment, she argued any future law made within its scope would be open to change depending on who was in government and the community expectations of the day. The composition, function, powers and procedures of the Voice would also be determined by the parliament only if the referendum succeeded, she said.
“Does this mean that voters will be ‘voting blind’ in a referendum if they cannot know every way that parliament might exercise its powers in the future? No. Voters in a referendum will be voting on the basic principle – giving Indigenous Australians a collective voice to seek to influence and inform the parliament and government by making representations to them.”
“I’m optimistic … There is already enormous support across the faith sector, across the corporate sector, across the union sector, and in many parts of the electorates. And that support has just been overwhelming.”
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