Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied a failure of the indigenous Voice referendum would politically damage him or his government, and remains hopeful it will be passed despite poor recent polling.
The polls indicate the referendum proposal – to change the constitution to enshrine an Aboriginal Voice which must be consulted on all laws that affect indigenous people – will struggle to get the requisite majority in at least four states.
However Mr Albanese still believes the Yes campaign can get up.
‘Constitutional change is hard in this country, only eight propositions have been successful out of 48 but I’m confident that Australians will take up this opportunity to vote yes,’ Mr Albanese told Nine’s 60 Minutes on Sunday.
He denied that he had staked his legitimacy as Prime Minister or the credibility of the Labor government upon the outcome of the referendum.
‘It’s not about me and it’s not about any politician,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘It’s not my product. It’s a product that came from indigenous Australians and it’s one that I support.
‘My plan is to be successful at this referendum and I’m determined to stand up for my values and I have faith in the Australian people.’
Anthony Albanese (pictured) has been grilled on glaring flaws about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament after four recent polls all found the referendum will be defeated
The Prime Minister was also asked what is the point of the Voice when there are already Indigenous voices in parliament and the government is already consulting with the communities.
‘We don’t have a structured national program,’ he replied. ‘If we do the same thing, we should expect the same outcomes and those outcomes are just not good enough.’
‘A practical example is when community health programs have involved Indigenous people themselves and they’ve been listened to, you have better health outcomes.’
The Prime Minister said a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament would not overturn the parliamentary structures, leading Adams to ask him what its real power would be then.
‘Its power is the power of voice,’ he replied.
The 60 Minutes reporter pushed him, saying there were mixed messages that, on one hand, he was saying this is a huge, historic change, and on the other hand, it won’t really affect most people’s lives.
‘For most non-Indigenous Australians, it won’t impact the way the parliament functions, the things that have a direct impact on their lives,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘But it just might make it better for the most disadvantaged group in Australian society. For our indigenous Australians,’ Mr Albanese said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the odds are stacked against the Voice passing as only eight out of 48 previous referendums in Australia have passed.
‘I’m concerned about the impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – that is my only concern … This isn’t about party politics.
Read Related Also: Rescue operation underway after military aircraft crash near Darwin
‘This is about improving the lives of Indigenous Australians.’
Indigenous senator Jacinta Price (pictured) is a prominent campaigner against the Voice
The Prime Minister said a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament would not overturn the parliamentary structures. The Aboriginal flag is picture being carried during the annual NAIDOC march in Melbourne, Friday, July 7, 2023
But prominent No campaigner, Indigenous senator Jacinta Price, sees things very differently.
‘I think in contrast, it’s demonstrated that it’s split Australia down the middle for an idea that was intended to unite the nation,’ the Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman said.
Ms Price said she had asked the government if it could guarantee having a Voice to Parliament would do anything to save even one life.
‘And some of the response I’ve got is it provides hope,’ she said. Well, hope makes you feel warm and fuzzy but hope doesn’t stop a kid from being sexually abused.
‘Hope doesn’t end the violence in communities. Hope doesn’t feed a mouth.’
Veteran Indigenous campaigner Noel Pearson is directly opposed to Ms Price and is prominently advocating for a Yes vote in the referendum.
He addressed some common myths about the Voice that have emerged in recent months, such as the idea that under the Voice, Australians will have to pay a percentage of GDP to the Voice every year.
‘Absolute nonsense. Rubbish,’ Mr Pearson said, adding that a land tax and royalties to the Voice are also ‘Nonsense. Can’t happen.’
Questioned on why this is so, he said the Voice would not be a decision making body.
‘The only people who can levy taxes – or anything like that – make policies, is the government. (The Voice’s purpose) is to make representations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese receives traditional gifts from a young Yolngu boy during Garma Festival at Gulkula on August 4, 2023 in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
Veteran Indigenous campaigner Noel Pearson (pictured) is prominently advocating for a Yes vote in the referendum
‘Those are just outlandish fear campaign ideas,’ he said.
For both the Prime Minister and Mr Pearson, the Voice referendum ultimately comes down to the same word – faith.
‘My plan is to be successful at this referendum and I’m determined to stand up for my values and I have faith in the Australian people,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘We’re putting faith in you, the Australian people,’ Mr Pearson said. ‘This is about our country and we’ve got to get it right.’
