Anthony Albanese lists his priorities for 2023 at Woodford Folk Festival

Anthony Albanese outlined his vision for 2023 and as he honoured Bob Hawke in a speech at the late Labor leader’s favourite music festival.

The prime minister also confirmed his timeline for a referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, to be held in the second half of next year.

Mr Albanese spoke about 3pm at the Woodford Folk Festival, just north of Brisbane, as Mr Hawke’s widow Blanche D’Alpuget watched on.

He was also joined by his girlfriend Jodie Haydon, who sat next to Ms D’Alpuget, along with ministers Tony Burke and Linda Burney.

Honouring Mr Hawke, a big fan of the festival who frequently made speeches there before his death in 2019, the prime minister vowed not to waste his time in office.

‘Bob Hawke left a great a legacy, and that’s because he understood that for any legacy to have staying power requires a government that lasts the distance,’ he said.

‘The words that characterised his leadership – reconciliation, accord, consensus – were all about us heading in the same direction as a nation. 

‘No one’s time in government is infinite. The clock is always ticking.

‘But I firmly believe that a good way to make the best possible use of that time is to carry Bob’s example in your heart.’

Mr Albanese focused part of his speech on the Indigenous Voice, which he planned to legislate early in the new year and hold a referendum on by Christmas.

‘When Woodford takes place next year, the referendum on the Voice to Parliament will have been held,’ he said

‘This is an opportunity for all of us to be a part of enriching our nation and being even stronger in the future.

‘We live in the world’s greatest nation, but an even greater Australia is so tantalisingly within our reach.’ 

The PM will said the Voice would ‘ensure consultation on matters that directly affect Indigenous Australians, such as education, health, housing, and justice issues’.

He argued a successful referendum would remove ‘the torment of our powerlessness’ indigenous people felt.

‘Momentum is growing. Local government, community groups, churches, business, trade unions, and sporting codes have joined every state and territory government in pledging support for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to parliament. This can be an inclusive moment of national unity and reconciliation,’ he said. 

However, opposition to the Voice is also gearing up to convince Australians to vote no, and the National Party in November said it would not support it.

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The Liberals are yet to decide whether they will support or oppose the Voice, or allow MPs to freely support either camp.

Mr Albanese said he ‘respects everyone’s right to make their own decision on the referendum, but I encourage Australians to consider the generous and gracious request from First Nations people’.

The PM recapped the policy achievements of his busy first months in power since winning the May 21 election, as the first Labor PM since 2013.

His seven months included passing sweeping industrial relations laws, setting a 43 per cent renewable energy target, boosting the minimum wage, increasing paid parental leave, and cutting the cost of childcare. 

Another piece of legislation he passed, created the National Anti-Corruption Commission, got special mention in his speech as he warned no country was safe from sliding into authoritarianism.

‘We have established a National Anti-Corruption Commission because restoring integrity and trust to our politics is essential if we are to maintain the health of our democracy,’ he said.

‘I urge anyone who thinks our democracy is unassailable to have a look around the world.

‘Even some of the oldest, most stable democracies have come under attack from a whole range of corrosive, insidious forces. No one is immune.’

Mr Albanese argued the NACC was a ‘crucial step’ in safeguarding Australian democracy.

‘Our democracy is precious, something we have carefully grown and nurtured from one generation to the next. One of our core responsibilities is to make it stronger, and key to that strength is transparency and accountability,’ he said.

Mr Albanese also touted his success at improving Australia’s relations with China after former PM Scott Morrison’s call for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus sparked a two-year trade war.

‘It doesn’t mean we agree with China on everything. It doesn’t mean we don’t raise our concerns and our significant points of difference,’ said.

‘We will co-operate with China where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in Australia’s national interest.’

Mr Albanese, in reflecting on his renewable energy target of 43 per cent by 2030, called for Australia to become a green manufacturing powerhouse.

‘There is a great future on the horizon, and it is so exciting. Australia can be a renewable energy superpower,’ he said.

‘Along with all that solar and wind power to generate clean, cheap, reliable electricity, we have – with our great abundance of lithium – everything we need to build the batteries we need right here.’

Finally, as a nod to the music fans he spoke to, Mr Albanese’s speech promised more arts funding and condemns nine years of Coalition cuts to the sector.

“The arts are central to our culture and it is through the arts that we build our identity as a nation and a people,’ he said.