She said the body was needed to address the societal disadvantages faced by First Nations peoples.
“The first question I want to address is ‘why is the Voice needed?'” Burney said.
“And the simple answer is because the gap isn’t closing fast enough.
“For too long, governments have made policies for Indigenous Australians, not with Indigenous Australians.
“We need the Voice to change that.”
Burney said the body should be enshrined in the Constitution rather than legislated so it could give honest advice without any fear of being removed by any future governments.
”A Voice or advisory body cannot be truly independent or give frank advice to the government of the day if the government of the day can abolish it with a stroke of a pattern,” she said.
In outlining some details of the proposed body, Burney said it would be chosen by local communities to give advice to parliament on matters affecting Indigenous Australians.
She added that, while the Voice would be able to advise governments on a wide scope of issues relating to First Nations peoples, there would be no compulsion on governments to listen.
“The Voice will be an independent, representative advisory body made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said.
“The Voice will be nimble, efficient and focused on making a practical difference.
“That is what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have asked for, to be heard…
“It will consult with local communities, it will be accountable and transparent and all co-operate with existing organisations.”
Burney also outlined the early priorities for the body, should the Yes vote be successful later in the year.
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“From day one, the Voice will have a full in-tray,” she said.
“I will ask the voice to consider four main priority areas: health, education, jobs and housing.
“The Voice will be tasked with taking the long view.
“Unlike government, it won’t be distracted by the three-year election cycles.
“It will plan for the next generation, not the next term. It will be focused on making a better future for the next generation.
“The time to make a generational difference is now.”
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Burney also delivered a stinging rebuke for the No campaign, accusing it of being deliberately misleading and divisive.
”The No campaign has been organised by a group called Fair Australia,” she said.
“It is importing Trump-style politics to Australia. It is post-truth.
“And its aim is to polarise, to sow division in our society by making false claims, including that (the Voice) providing advice to government would somehow impact the fundamental democratic principle of one vote, one value – a claim designed to mislead.
“Do not let them divide us.
“The proposed change is constitutionally sound and legally safe.”
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