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Anthony Albanese has broken down his Indigenous Voice proposal to Parliament once again after being called by Today Show host Sarah Abo, who says Australians are ‘confused’ by it.
Abo questioned Albanese about the proposal on Monday morning, claiming it had become “a big mess” as the federal opposition calls for more details on the proposed body, which would be established after a successful referendum.
‘Why don’t you sit down and discuss this so that there is more clarity for the public so that we can achieve the results you are looking for?’
You have the community trying to get some consensus between you and the Opposition. Why don’t they sit down and discuss this so they can achieve the results they want, asked Ms. Abo.
Anthony Albanese (pictured) has broken down to The Voice once again after complaints from the opposition that the proposal was “confusing” and needed more detail.
“I’ve had five meetings with Peter Dutton, Sarah, five meetings,” the prime minister replied.
“And last July I presented the actual questions that will be asked in the referendum.”
But Ms Abo said Australians were “still confused” by the proposal and further explanation was needed.
‘You don’t need all the details, but you do need a little more detail, to make it easier to digest. Is it even necessary? he asked Mr. Albanese.
“The two simple things people will be asked to vote yes for in the referendum are, one, to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our constitution,” the Prime Minister reiterated.
‘The second is to allow an advisory body, to be called ‘The Voice’, to be set up to advise the government, parliament, on issues that directly affect Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.’
‘A Voice to Parliament will not be a funding body. It will not run programs, it will simply be a source of advice to the government,” explained Mr. Albanese.
He added that there have been no changes to the proposal since he announced it in July.
Asked if the government would push through the legislation if the referendum failed, Albanese said he was more focused on ensuring a successful vote.
The prime minister appeared on The Today show on Monday to talk about The Voice, as well as the state of the economy, cost of living pressures and energy.
Australians will be asked to vote on recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution and formation of an advisory group to advise the government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues ( pictured protest against Australia Day date in Melbourne)
Mr. Albanese explained that there have been no changes to the proposal since he announced it in July (in the photo, Mr. Albanese at the Garma Festival last year)
It comes as both Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek weighed in on the debate.
The environment minister has warned Australians not to mistake the status of the indigenous voice proposed to parliament.
“This is a voice, not a veto,” he told the Seven Network on Monday.
‘It’s a really important vote. It will be an opportunity for Australians to talk about the kind of nation we want to be in the future, to send a message to the world and get more practical provision of healthcare and education and so on for Australian First Nations.”
Dr Chalmers dismissed opposition leader Peter Dutton’s claims that the proposal did not provide enough detail.
“Peter Dutton isn’t really looking for more details, he’s looking for more division and I think he’s a very similar type of leader to Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison,” Dr. Chalmers said at a news conference on Sunday.
‘No wonder they’re talking about bringing Tony Abbott back, so they’d have the full set, three peas in a pod.
“They all practice this kind of divisive, destructive politics that says the surest way to political success is to shoot down these kinds of opportunities facing Australia in 2023 and beyond.”
Peter Dutton (pictured) said he was focused on whether The Voice would take action to address racial inequality.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) has dismissed calls from the opposition leader for more details, saying Dutton was only concerned with divisiveness.
Dutton said Sunday that any proposals would have to address racial inequities and improve reconciliation.
However, he stopped short of officially endorsing the need for a voice, saying there had to be tangible action first.
“It’s not so much on my mind whether there is a voice or not, but whether there is action from the government,” he told Sky News Australia.
“I want an outcome that ends the violence, the sexual assaults on children that are taking place in Alice Springs right now.
Now his voice is not heard.