Referendum on Indigenous voice to parliament a ‘complete waste’ of money, Lidia Thorpe says

Victorian Greens senator Lidia Thorpe says Australia doesn’t need a referendum to have a treaty – arguing that’s more important than an Indigenous voice. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Labor’s hopes of a consensus on an Indigenous voice to parliament could be in doubt, with Coalition and Greens senators criticising the government for “waste” and calling for practical action over symbolism.

The prime minister pledged a referendum within this parliamentary term, a move the Victorian Greens senator Lidia Thorpe labelled a “complete waste” of money, saying advances towards a treaty were more important.