Anthony Albanese fires back at very tough question about The Voice to Parliament: ‘This should not be controversial’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that if his time was up he would still hold the Voice in the parliamentary referendum, even if the debate has become “nasty and divisive” at times.

When he claimed victory in May last year, the first thing Mr Albanese committed the Labor government to was “fully” implementing the Uluru Declaration from the heart, with the first step being a referendum on the consecration of an indigenous voice in Parliament.

Despite calls from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to delay the “divisive” referendum or change the question to ask Australians to vote on Indigenous recognition without a constitutionally enshrined voice – and amid declining support for yes – Mr Albanese remained steadfast in his position. commitment.

But, with just over three weeks before Australians vote in the first referendum since 1999, the debate has sometimes taken a wrong turn.

After fifteen difficult parliamentary sessions, both sides of Parliament condemned a group of pro-Voice activists whoinsulted No activists as they headed to a rally in Adelaide earlier this week and called for respectful debate before October 14.

Mr Albanese said Australians on both sides of the debate needed to be respectful, but when asked if he would still make the same commitment to holding the referendum if he had his time on his hands again – knowing now to how “nasty and divisive” the debate would become – he was adamant.

‘Yes. Because when are we going to do this (if not). It’s been 122 years,” he said on 2SM radio on Wednesday morning.

“There are provisions in the Constitution for New Zealand to be Australia’s seventh state, but there is no recognition of Australia’s first peoples.

“It shouldn’t be controversial.”

He said he was not the only political leader to commit to a referendum, saying it was also the “coalition position before the last election… before 2016”.

“As far back as 2007, John Howard pledged, within 18 months of his election, to hold a referendum on constitutional recognition… I was determined to restore confidence in politics by doing what we said. we would do it and it is an opportunity to move the country forward. And there is nothing to fear from this proposal,” he said.

Mr Albanese also welcomed the news that Cathy Freeman – arguably one of Australia’s greatest sporting icons and a proud Aboriginal woman – had thrown her support behind the Yes case.

In a video for Yes23, the gold medalist encouraged Australians to vote Yes, saying: “I can’t remember a time when change has felt so urgent, when the momentum has been so strong.”

“We are fortunate to be part of a moment that brings people together, to work hard for something we can all believe in,” she said.

Mr Albanese echoed Freeman, reinforcing his call for Australians to accept the “generous” invitation extended by First Nations people to Uluru in 2017.

“(She) joined the overwhelming majority of Indigenous Australians seeking recognition in our nation’s founding document,” he said.

Liberal Party deputy leader Sussan Ley said while she did not agree with Freeman’s position, she had “expressed her views very strongly” and suggested she should consider a tilt for Parliament.

“I don’t agree with her. I don’t agree with the Yes argument, but as I’ve said many times, it’s okay to vote Yes, and it’s okay to vote No,” she said. told Sky News.

“What is not acceptable is the type of disrespect and abuse that people experienced only a day or two ago in Adelaide… The type of abuse that we saw n is simply not acceptable.

“You can have this competition of ideas around the kitchen table, but you absolutely have to respect everyone’s opinions on it.”

In a bid to encourage undecided voters to support The Voice, the Uluru Dialogue is launching a new social media campaign, ask young people to “call you” and discuss with them the imminent referendum.

Uluru Youth Dialogue co-convener Bridget Cama said young people would play a “really important role” in the upcoming referendum.

“We’re asking young Australians across the country to pick up the phone and call their loved ones, and just tell them about Voice – why it’s important to them as young people, and then ask them if they would support Voice and would vote. yes, she said.