The final version of the question set to be put to the public at the referendum on the Indigenous voice will be back up for debate in federal parliament.
MPs face another late-night session of parliament on Wednesday as talks on the Indigenous voice continue.
Parliament is set to vote on the final wording of the referendum question along with the changes to the constitution should the proposal succeed.
It comes as Indigenous issues go under the spotlight at Senate estimates, where questions surrounding the voice will feature on Wednesday.
Estimates hearings on Tuesday heard referendum rules might lead to a one-sided information pamphlet being sent to households.
Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers told the hearing the AEC needed to receive essays outlining the case for either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on time and within the legal framework, otherwise, they would be rejected.
“It might mean that we’re distributing a booklet with only one case,” he said.
“Whatever parliamentary processes put in place by the ‘yes’ and the ‘no’ groups that are formed, it will be very critical to make sure that we get all of that material on time.”
The commissioner said he was concerned about the “unpredictable information environment” in the lead-up to the referendum.
“The information ecosystem was entirely different at the time of the last referendum, with no social media,” he said.
“We’re already seeing an increase in disinformation on social media and a regrettable increase in threatening commentary.”
Peter Dutton has been accused by Greens leader Adam Bandt of using race to divide the country ahead of the voice referendum.
“The leader of the opposition has taken this opportunity to divide instead of unite, to continue a long tradition of seeking to use race to win votes,” Mr Bandt told parliament.
Mr Dutton said the Indigenous voice to parliament would take the country backward, labelling it Orwellian and a reckless roll of the dice.
The lower house isn’t expected to vote on the voice bill until next week when the debate will shift to the Senate.
The bill is expected to be finalised in June ahead of the referendum, which will be held between October and December.
– AAP
