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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Katharine Murphy Political editor

Albanese says voice referendum will go ahead even if political dissent presents risk of failure

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney at a meeting of the Voice Referendum working group in a committee room of Parliament House in Canberra today.
Delaying or scrapping the referendum would be like forfeiting a grand final, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Anthony Albanese has revealed he will proceed with the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament even if he suspects the proposal will fail because of a lack of political consensus.

Given history shows referendums fail when they lack bipartisan support, the prime minister acknowledged that advancing, come what may, was a “risk … particularly where, at the moment, it is only the Labor party saying that they are committed to a yes vote”.

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