Former chief justice slams no campaign’s core argument against voice as ‘resentful’

The former high court justice Robert French has backed the indigenous voice to parliament, refuting arguments that will constrain executive decision-making. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Australia’s former chief justice will describe the core argument of the anti-voice campaign – that “if you don’t know, vote no” – as “resentful” in a major speech in Canberra on Friday.

Robert French will describe the no campaign tactic as an invitation to “resentful, uninquiring passivity”, arguing Australians “are better than that”.