Voice to Parliament: Linda Burney says the body won’t try to change date of Australia Day

The Home Affairs Minister has sparked mass confusion and outrage after claiming that a Voice to Parliament would have no interest in trying to change the date of Australia Day.

Linda Burney this week has repeatedly dodged questions from the opposition in parliament – notably deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley – about the scope of the advisory body.

Ms Ley has repeatedly called on Ms Burney to outline what the Voice could and could not protest in parliament – with Ms Burney ruling out on Tuesday giving advice on Australia Day.

She said, “I can tell you what The Voice won’t advise on. It will not advise on parking fines.

“It will not advise on changing Australia Day. It won’t be advice about all the ridiculous things that party has come up with.’

But constitutional experts have questioned Ms Burney’s claim.

Ms Ley hit back in an interview with Peter Stefanovic on Wednesday morning, calling for Ms Burney to return to parliament to ‘correct the record’.

“I think Linda Burney is really in trouble here,” she said.

“If you mislead parliament, perhaps unintentionally, you need to get back into the chamber and correct the facts.

“It is clearly not the case that The Voice could not comment on Australia Day.”

The government has stood by its message that the advisory body – should the Voice succeed in the referendum – would be able to take protests to parliament on all matters affecting First Nations people.

Critics and the opposition are calling on the government to be more specific, as the idea of ​​the impact on indigenous people varies depending on who you ask.

Mrs. Ley had Mrs. Burney asked if the Voice could “protest to the Chief of the Armed Forces about military acquisitions or the location or operation of military bases.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – along with most of the other Labor MPs in the chamber – laughed in response.

The government argues that these questions were asked in bad faith. Any advisory body would have no veto power and decision-making would remain with the government of the day and parliament.

Constitutional law expert George Williams told The Australian it is “conceivable” that a group like the Voice to Parliament will be protesting on the date of Australia Day.

The debate over whether Australia should change the date of the National Day has raged for decades and has only intensified in recent years.

Mr Williams said: ‘The question is ‘matters relating to Indigenous peoples’ and a holiday commemorating the colonization of Australia could be something they are protesting about. I’m just saying “maybe” – we don’t know – but it would be open to them to do that if they wanted to and then it would be a judgment call.

‘[Ms Burney] may know better than I do. After all, it’s her community. She may be making a judgment that she doesn’t believe they will. That’s why I don’t think she’s wrong; it’s just a judgment.’

Other experts say a date change probably isn’t a high priority, but can’t guarantee it will never be on the agenda.

The prime minister said Australians will have a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” between October and December to improve the lives of First Nations people.

“Where’s the downside here?” he asked. “What are people risking here?

“From my perspective, this is all positive.”

Mr Albanese said: “The truth is that for most people watching this it won’t impact their lives” but that it “might make things better for the most disadvantaged people in Australia”.

After years of doing things ‘for’ Aboriginal people, often with the best of intentions, the Prime Minister said a Voice to Parliament would empower Indigenous people to take the lead on issues that matter to them.

There have been many concerns about what exactly this means. Critics of the Voice say not enough detail is being provided on the issues the advisory body will have input on.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus tried to clear up that confusion during the press conference.

He listed five key themes that will become the focus of the advisory group’s attention: health, employment, education, housing and justice.

“This referendum can do no harm, only good,” he said. “Parliament has done its job and now it’s up to the Australian people.”

Both the yes and no campaigns will now ramp up their efforts to engage with voters ahead of the referendum, which is likely to take place in October this year.

The Liberal Party, Nationals and One Nation will all oppose the Voice and contribute to official No pamphlets delivered to every household.

Labor and the Greens will collaborate with several independents on a Yes pamphlet.

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