One question to change Australia

Anthony Albanese argues only three sentences are required to deliver a major change to Australia’s constitution.

For the first time, the Prime Minister will detail his vision for a referendum to create an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in an address to the Garma Festival on Saturday.

“I believe the best way to seize momentum is by settling – as soon as possible – on the referendum question that will be put to the people of Australia,” he will say.

The question, Mr Albanese will say, could look something like: “Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice”.

Additionally, he will tell the festival – which is being held for the first time in two years – the sentences he would like to see injected into the Constitution.

1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
3. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

“These draft provisions can be seen as the next step in the discussion about constitutional change,” he will say.

The Prime Minister will seek to allay concerns that a Voice would be a “third chamber” of parliament, an argument made by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“The Uluru Statement is a hand outstretched, a moving show of faith in Australian decency and Australian fairness from people who have been given every reason to forsake their hope in both,” Mr Albanese will say.

It is the first time in five years a prime minister has attended the festival held on East Arnhem land in the Top End. Mr Albanese last attended as opposition leader in 2019.

Mr Albanese will be joined by Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and members of his frontbench. In a show of bipartisanship, Coalition spokesman Julian Leeser will travel with the government.

It comes as reports that some within Liberal ranks are threatening to derail consensus across the parliament.

The prime minister will concede while there will be fear campaigns whipped up during the referendum process, the “greatest threat to the cause will be indifference”.

“Let us all understand: Australia does not have to choose between improving peoples’ lives and amending the constitution,” he will say.

“We can do both – and we have to.”