Federal cabinet will have only a few days to consider crucial advice on the voice to parliament from the government’s internal group of Indigenous leaders, with one key member saying both sides may have to “compromise” on the wording of the referendum question and constitutional amendment.
The government’s commitment to introduce legislation for the constitutional amendment in the coming fortnight has been complicated by its referendum working group not yet finalising its advice on key details. But ahead of further meetings next week in Canberra, the Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, rebuffed speculation about disagreement in the working group.
“There is no division. I want to make that extraordinarily clear,” she told a press conference in Adelaide.
“I can assure you, we are so close.”
It was expected the working group would finalise its advice at Thursday’s meeting, but agreement wasn’t reached. Guardian Australia understands the group will meet again on Wednesday in Canberra, to finalise advice to cabinet. The advice would likely then be considered at cabinet on 27 March.
With the government sweating on finalising and introducing the constitutional amendment bill in the final week of this month, beginning 27 March, the timetable leaves only a few days to consider the advice before the cabinet meeting.
Working group members declined to comment on why the advice was not finalised, with several only describing week’s meetings as positive. Burney described Thursday’s meeting as “productive”.
Working group member Rodney Dillon said he didn’t anticipate substantial changes to the referendum question or amendment, and expected further information would help ease concerns in the community.
“I don’t think it will change too much at all and when there is more information … from now to the next month, I think that the amount of information coming out will be sufficient for people to understand,” Dillon told Guardian Australia.
“It’ll be a great step forward and people will start to understand what a yes vote means.”
He described the group as collegiate and working together as a “united” front.
Thomas Mayo, another working group member, said recent discussions had been collegiate and in good faith.
“The government has taken the advice of people very seriously,” he told Guardian Australia.
“That doesn’t mean there’s not going to be a need for compromise, both ways, to collaborate on the best possible words that give us the strongest possible voice and, at the same time, be able to pass at a referendum.”
Members have expressed concern at what some saw as attempts to “water down” the voice. Following an amendment proposed by the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, at last week’s meeting, which would allow parliament to determine the legal effect of the voice’s advice, member Marcus Stewart said there was “no room for mediocrity” and that the amendment should be “as strong as possible”.
Mayo said the voice should be set up “in a way that genuinely listens to what we have to say”.
Burney said the government and working group wanted “to get this voice right”, so it would be “a voice that people are asking for”.
Burney wouldn’t say whether she expected the final wording to change from the draft phrasing shared by Albanese last year, or whether a much-debated power for the voice to advise executive government would remain.
AFL star Adam Goodes addressed the group on Friday. The government has long-flagged a campaign of support from sporting codes and athletes including rugby league, Aussie rules, football and tennis, expected to begin in coming months.
“There is nothing in the Constitution right now, not a single world, that mentions that anyone was here in 1788.” – Adam Goodes
— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) March 17, 2023
Huge honour to have Adam Goodes join the Referendum Engagement Group today to share his story of strength and his support for Voice. Thanks Adam! pic.twitter.com/6RdWQK7yy2
Prime minister Anthony Albanese downplayed concerns about the process, committing again to the timeline of introducing legislation in March and holding a parliamentary committee, having the bill voted on in June, and holding the referendum between October and December.
“We are working constructively through the issues,” he said.
