The Yes campaign for this year's Voice referendum is amassing a heavy-hitting group of business, legal and political minds to lead the case for change, announcing a respected Liberal strategist and John Howard confidant as its latest recruit.
The former prime minister's chief of staff and former Liberal Party director Tony Nutt is joining the board of Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR) — the lead organising and fundraising vehicle for the Yes side.
He will serve alongside another Liberal strategist, Mark Textor, who is considered one of the best pollsters in the country, and former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd's media adviser, Lachlan Harris.
Mr Nutt said he had long been a supporter of Indigenous constitutional recognition and hoped for a successful result in this year's referendum.
"Twenty four years ago, I first supported Indigenous constitutional recognition by voting for the proposed preamble in the 1999 referendum on that topic," he said.
"While the preamble proposal — which included other material — was not passed by electors, that did not change my personal support for the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our nation's constitution."
With the Yes campaign set to be launched the week of February 20, AICR has finalised the composition of its 12-person board, co-chaired by Gilbert and Tobin law firm chief executive Danny Gilbert and Rachel Perkins, a film director and daughter of Indigenous civil rights activist Charlie Perkins.
Prominent businesswoman Catherine Tanna has also signed on, along with Wesfarmers chair Michael Chaney, AFL executive Tanya Hosch and Indigenous leaders and campaigners Noel Pearson and Thomas Mayo.
"In 2023, we have an opportunity to come together, recognise the place of Australia's first inhabitants in our constitution, and ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are given a say over issues affecting them to drive practical change and better outcomes," AICR co-chair Mr Gilbert said.
"The board members bring tremendous experience, wisdom and focus to this cause."
While the Yes side appears to be well organised, the No campaign is still taking shape with the emergence this week of the No Case Committee, to be led by Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price and former Labor Party president turned Liberal candidate Warren Mundine.
The No side is backing the symbolic gesture of recognising Indigenous Australians in the constitution while opposing the Voice, a position at odds with the recommendations from the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will receive his first detailed briefing on the proposal to insert an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the constitution on Thursday, as his party wrestles with whether to offer its bipartisan support to the referendum.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Mr Dutton to be willing to consider the viewpoints put forward.
"I hope he goes and meets with the referendum working group, that I've met with twice, with an open mind and importantly an open heart," he said.
"This is something that should be well above politics. This is a chance to unite the nation."
Mr Dutton wrote to the prime minister last month demanding answers to 15 questions about how the Voice would operate.
Mr Albanese has not responded and it is not yet clear how much detail the government is planning to provide before Australians go to a vote later this year.
