Voice will provide practical advice to change Indigenous lives Labor says, Liberal senator says vote no

You’ll be asked to vote to further recognise Indigenous Australians this year via the Voice referendum. Questions linger about how it will improve First Nations lives.

Geelong's federal politicians: Labor’s Libby Coker, top left and Richard Marles, bottom left; and Liberal Sarah Henderson, right.

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson says she will vote against Labor’s proposal to bolster recognition for Indigenous Australians in the nation’s birth certificate by establishing the Voice to parliament, and has encouraged others to do the same.

Labor wants to establish the Voice to provide practical advice on Indigenous affairs to the federal parliament and executive government but let federal parliament decide on its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

To establish the Voice, a referendum asking Australians to change the constitution will be held between October and December.

Ms Henderson, a shadow cabinet member, raised concerns about legal implications if the Voice was adopted and questioned how it would deliver better outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

“To vote yes to this proposal is to exchange one set of shackles for another.

“Practically speaking, the Voice will allow a small group of Indigenous Australians to influence government decision-making to an extent unprecedented in our nation’s history.

“We have not heard any evidence how the Voice will make a difference on the ground in local communities and remote settlements where it really matters.

“An implied duty to consult the Voice on any proposed decision … cannot be ruled out.”

Corangamite Labor MP Libby Coker said the Voice was “a simple proposition to give First Nations people opportunity to provide advice to the Australian Parliament and government on significant matters that affected them, like health and educational outcomes, rates of incarceration, and lower life expectancy.”

“I have faith in my fellow Australians that we can face these injustices and vote in the upcoming referendum with compassion and generosity,” Ms Coker said.

“We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by voting yes in this referendum.

“(Further) constitutional recognition is long-overdue acknowledgment of 65,000 years of shared history and continuous connection to this land by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.”

Ms Henderson said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders should be recognised in the constitution as the first peoples and custodians of the land.

“However, the government’s proposal to recognise Indigenous Australians in our constitution through the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to parliament and the executive is a very different proposition.

“It’s a proposal that would give rise to a very substantial constitutional risk.

“This proposal will permanently graft onto our constitution a body whose powers are unclear, whose members are unknown, whose remit is potentially unlimited and whose influence on the parliament, the government and every part of the executive will run unchecked.”

Corio MP and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said constitutional recognition through a Voice was about recognition and listening.

“Listening because listening to communities leads to better policies and better outcomes,” Mr Marles said.

“Making a practical difference on the ground in areas like health, education and housing – that’s what the Voice will help deliver.”

For the constitution to change, the referendum needs a majority of votes in favour at the national level as well as in at least four of the six states.

Originally published as Voice will provide practical advice to change Indigenous lives Labor says, Liberal senator says vote no