The Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, has ruled out holding a debate on the voice to parliament referendum with her opposition counterpart, accusing the Coalition of seeking “typical conflict and obstruction” on the issue.
“No, this is about Australians not politicians,” Burney said.
“It’s always been about politics for the Liberals and Nationals. That’s why they want a Canberra debate,” she said.
On Tuesday, after the release of the yes and no pamphlets on the voice, Senator Jacinta Nampinjinpa Price told 2GB radio she would be happy to debate a yes campaigner such as the minister for 30 minutes.
Defending the no pamphlet – which has been criticised for containing errors and for misquoting the legal expert Greg Craven – the opposition spokesperson on Indigenous Australians and prominent no campaigner said she would like to debate the minister about the voice, calling the voice proposal a “dog’s breakfast”.
“As shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, I would certainly expect the minister might take the opportunity to debate me on this very issue,” Nampinjinpa Price said.
“I’d be very happy to do that.”
But Burney has rejected the idea, saying she is having conversations with people across the country about how a voice will help improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, not engaging in political debate.
“We want an honest and open conversation with Australia about a path to a better future,” she said.
“They want typical political conflict and obstruction.”
Last week Burney visited in Launceston, Albany, Port Hedland, Kununurra and Broome. Next week she will be in Wodonga and Adelaide.
Tonight she will sit on a sold-out panel at Sydney town hall with speakers including Noel Pearson, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Thomas Mayo, Kerry O’Brien and Prof Anne Twomey.
What has happened already?
The Albanese government has put forward the referendum question: "A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?"
The PM also suggested three sentences be added to the constitution:
- There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
How would it work?
The voice would be able to make recommendations to the Australian parliament and government on matters relating to the social, spiritual and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The voice would be able to table formal advice in parliament and a parliamentary committee would consider that advice. But the voice co-design report said all elements would be non-justiciable, meaning there could not be a court challenge and no law could be invalidated based on this consultation.
How would it be structured?
The co-design report recommended the national voice have 24 members, encompassing two from each state, the Northern Territory, ACT and Torres Strait. A further five members would represent remote areas and an additional member would represent Torres Strait Islanders living on the mainland.
Members would serve four-year terms, with half the membership determined every two years.
