Peter Dutton says Australians should be 'very proud' of the country's Indigenous and British heritage, and is open to an idea dubbed 'divisive' by a peak migrant body.
The idea was touted by the anti-Voice campaign last month.Peter Dutton is open to recognising migrants alongside First Nations Australians in the constitution, declaring Australia should be "very proud" of its Indigenous and British heritage.
The government has also agreed to the Coalition's demand to mail pamphlets - outlining both arguments - to every Australian household before the referendum, set to be held this year.Warren Mundine, a Bundjalung man and leading organiser of the "No" campaign, last month suggested the referendum symbolically recognise Indigenous Australians and migrants, rather than implement a Voice to Parliament.
The Opposition leader said Australia boasted a "very proud" Indigenous heritage, with the vast majority of its population backing reconciliation efforts that would make tangible improvements to the lives of First Nations children. The Coalition is withholding its support for a Labor push to modernise Australia's referendum laws, which have not been updated since its last referendum nearly a quarter of a century ago.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to holding a referendum in the second half of 2023 on the issue of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
A similar pamphlet, written by MPs in favour and against becoming a republic, was mailed to voters ahead of the 1999 referendum.
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