Albanese’s testy radio stoush may be the first of many as Voice vote nears | Samantha Maiden

A testy interview with a Sydney radio host on the Voice referendum could be a sign of things to come for the PM, writes Samantha Maiden.

Anthony Albanese was quick to brand it “dumb” to suggest outcomes for Indigenous Australians can improve without a Voice to parliament in the constitution this week.

He wasn’t saying opponents of the Voice were dumb of course, but his frustrations about being asked a string of questions that he thought echoed the No campaign was obvious.

But the question that came ricocheting back during the interview was this: if you can say no to whatever the Voice suggests, why will anything change?

During a testy interview on Sydney’s 2GB Radio with Ben Fordham, the Prime Minister chastised the media, insisting broadcasters and journalists should be spruiking the idea rather than questioning it.

“And Ben, people need to not raise red herrings. You know full well that when, if this is successful and there’s a Voice, you know it won’t have a right of veto,’’ Mr Albanese said.

But Fordham then asked how the Voice would lead to concrete outcomes when his own argument was the government could regularly reject whatever it suggests.

The discussion began diplomatically enough with a review of the recent opinion polls.

“Let’s compare the Yes vote from the start of the year to now: Newspoll in February 56 per cent, now 41 per cent; Resolve in January 60 per cent, support now 49 per cent; Essential in February 65 per cent, now 47 per cent. Support is falling off the cliff,’’ 2GB’s Ben Fordham observed.

The Prime Minister insisted that people will focus when the actual vote is going to be held.

The trend however, does not seem to be the Yes vote’s friend.

Fordham argued he would have a better chance if he split the question. Allow voters a referendum purely on recognition, he argued, and “you’ll romp it in”.

“And you can legislate the Voice and you can get the body that you want. It is a win-win,’’ he said.

“But if you continue on this current path, and you keep the two tied together, you may end up with a lose-lose.”

Mr Albanese conceded he was “a pragmatic guy.”

The proposal, he observed, was from Indigenous Australians themselves and the constitutional convention way back in 2017.

“And they said they don’t just want recognition, the symbolism of recognition, they want something that will make a practical difference to their lives,’’ the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Fordham then asked a reasonable question, and it was downhill from there.

“What policy levers will the Voice give to Aboriginal people that they don’t have now?’’ he asked.

“What they’ll get is the opportunity to put forward the views that they have of how you close the gap,’’ Mr Albanese replied.

But doesn’t the government consult Indigenous Australians now on the issues that impact them?

“Well, of course, governments consult people,’’ he replied.

“But this is an elected body that will be able to make representations to the government.

“There’s an eight-year life expectancy gap. There is a greater chance of an Indigenous young male going to jail than to go to university.”

Fordham then asked, given the lower life expectancy, if there was an argument for Aboriginal people to be able to access the pension at a younger age?

“Well, governments will make decisions based upon representation,’’ the Prime Minister replied.

Mr Albanese stressed that there was no barrier to future governments saying no to suggestions from the Voice.

2GB radio host Ben Fordham in his Sydney studio. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

As Fordham tried to ask another question, the Prime Minister intervened.

“Can I make this point – because I know where you are reading from. You’re reading from the No pamphlet.”

“No I’m not. Excuse me, Prime Minister,’’ he replied.

“I am not reading from the No pamphlet. I’m reading from my own questions that I have written.”

“Are there going to be reparations?’’ Fordham asked.

“Surely as part of the Uluru Statement – we have a Voice, we have treaty, we have truth-telling – as part of a treaty, won’t there be compensation? If there is, I mean, that’s not totally unexpected.”

“This isn’t about a treaty, Ben,’’ the PM replied.

The Prime Minister focused on the endorsement of the Voice by high-profile sports stars and Aboriginal leaders: Johnathan Thurston, Eddie Betts, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Aunty Pat Anderson.

But there will be plenty more testy interviews between here and the referendum.

Originally published as Albanese’s testy radio stoush may be the first of many as Voice vote nears | Samantha Maiden