Anthony Albanese reveals draft Voice referendum question, changes to Constitution

The question Anthony Albanese thinks Australians should be asked in the first referendum in the nation in 20 years is set to be unveiled this weekend.

Australians would be asked directly whether they support enshrining the voice of Indigenous people in the Constitution, under a draft path toward the nation’s first referendum in 20 years to be unveiled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In a major step toward fulfilling Labor’s election promise of holding a referendum on the voice to parliament within this term, Mr Albanese will on Saturday also unveil the three sentences that could be added to the Constitution.

Mr Albanese will deliver the landmark speech at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land, which he will attend — as a guest of the Yolngu people — alongside a majority of Labor’s Indigenous MP and Senators.

He said enshrining the voice would be a “unifying Australian moment” and made clear he knew a referendum was a “high hurdle to clear” and there were risks of failure.

Mr Albanese said the question set to be put to the people should be settled “as soon as possible”.

“We should consider asking our fellow Australians something as simple as: Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has his face painted during the Garma Festival in East Arnhem. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

The voice would be a body, with “perspective and power”, that is able to have a say on laws and policies affecting Indigenous people and their communities.

The make-up, function, power and procedures of the body would be determined by parliament, according to the framework set to be put forward by Mr Albanese on Saturday.

“(The voice) will be an unflinching source of advice and accountability. Not a third chamber, not a rolling veto, not a blank cheque,” he said.

“But a body with the perspective and the power and the platform to tell the government and the parliament the truth about what is working and what is not.

“To tell the truth – with clarity, with conviction. Because a Voice enshrined in the constitution cannot be silenced.”

Mr Albanese, who in the “spirit of co-operation” invited Opposition Indigenous Affairs spokesman Julian Leeser on the trip to the Top End, made clear his suggestions were starting points and should be seen as the platform for the “next step” in discussions.

His speech comes as a growing chorus of Coalition members rankle at a “lack” of details around the voice.

Mr Albanese signalled his government was prepared for the need to fight “misinformation and fear campaigns”, but warned “indifference” would be the greatest threat.

“The notion that this is a nice piece of symbolism – but it will have no practical benefit,” he said.

“Let us all understand: Australia does not have to choose between improving peoples’ lives and amending the constitution. We can do both – and we have to.”