Penny Wong, Julie Bishop and Tanya Hosch answer your questions on the Voice vote

They were previously political rivals, but foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and Julie Bishop united at The Advertiser for a Yes Vote discussion on the Voice. Watch the replay.

They were previously political rivals but SA Senator Penny Wong and former foreign affairs Minister Julie Bishop united on Thursday night for a Yes vote discussion on the Voice referendum.

Hosted by The Advertiser, the discussion featured Senator Wong and Ms Bishop sharing their thoughts on the Yes vote, along with AFL Inclusion and Social Policy manager and popular Indigenous activist Tanya Hosch.

Ms Bishop has found herself on opposite sides of her former party room leader John Howard, who told the No campaign to “maintain the rage”.

The former Foreign Minister argued a Voice made sense “on principle” and said she “wished the Voice was around” when she was in Cabinet.

“There wasn’t an established body that could say, issue after issue, this is what local communities think.

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and The Advertiser chief reporter Paul Starick. Picture: Morgan Sette

“There’s nothing to say for the government to accept that opinion, but it’s there for people to say, ‘It makes sense or it doesn’t’.

“I’ve seen a lot of money go out from Canberra and not go to the communities it was intended for but end up in state or federal bureaucracies … I think this will be a more efficient use of taxpayer money.

“I believe it’s necessary for this advisory body to be in the constitution so that it doesn’t become a political football if it were just legislated. An incoming government could just legislate it out of existence.”

Ms Bishop also hit back at the notion of “if you don’t know, vote no”.

“If you wanted to run a case saying there’s not enough information, then every single successful referendum could have been subjected to that campaign.”

Foreign Minister Wong criticised the spread of online misinformation.

“Change is always hard, and change is often opposed by a set of arguments that engage with the issue and some that don’t,” she said.

AFL Inclusion and Social Policy manager and popular Indigenous activist Tanya Hosch. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Senator Penny Wong. Picture: Emma Brasier

Former foreign minister Juliae Bishop. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“The way in which the world has changed and the way in which social media operates means there’s a lot of information out there.

“We have to engage with people so people can talk through what they’re seeing and what they’re reading.”

Ms Hosch, who was instrumental in lobbying AFL teams to embrace the Yes campaign, said every team was brief with the exact same presentation.

“Then we did an anonymous poll as part of the presentation and I can’t tell you how highly our sector embraced that opportunity.

“We didn’t make a decision on anyone’s behalf, but we owed it to our industry to be clear and transparent.

She said she spoke to Australians of “good will and good heart” who believe the Voice would help close the gap.

“The fact is whenever we make constitutional change to Australia, it’s to affirm who we are, not to take it progressively forward,” Ms Hosch said.

“I don’t think this campaign has caused division, I think there are people out there who have sought to exploit the division that was already there.”

“A campaign such as this where you have an active and vocal ‘No’ case is going to emphasise the division that is already existing – the opportunity for us is to close that divide.”

Originally published as Penny Wong, Julie Bishop and Tanya Hosch answer your questions on the Voice vote