Labor’s bill to ditch public funding for voice campaigns backed by review but Coalition dissents

The Albanese government’s preference is to hold an education campaign through the Australian Electoral Commission, but not fund the yes or no campaigns. Photograph: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

The Albanese government’s plan to change the laws around referendums has been supported by a parliamentary review, but there was strong dissent from Coalition MPs who say they cannot “in good conscience” endorse changes while the government refuses to fund the yes and no campaigns on an Indigenous voice to parliament.

The electoral matters committee on Monday recommended that Labor’s referendum bill be passed, if amendments were made to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and enrolment, and as long as “clear, factual and impartial information” about the vote was made accessible to all voters.