Andrew Bolt: The government could be stuck with a referendum question it knows is dangerous

Labor’s racist plan for a Voice to Parliament is in huge trouble as debate rages over whether to add extra words to the referendum question.

Labor’s racist plan for a Voice – a kind of Aboriginal-only parliament in our constitution – is suddenly in huge trouble.

Last year Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he had a “simple and clear” question for us to vote on in a referendum this year.

He said we’d be asked whether an “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to parliament and the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.

Simple! And safe, insisted Albanese.

Anthony Albanese announced he had a ‘simple and clear’ question for us to vote on in a referendum. Picture: Supplied

Except it’s become alarmingly clear to his government, especially Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, that Albanese’s question is dangerous.

It’s so dangerous that Dreyfus last week tried to convince the government’s Aboriginal-only referendum working group to change Albanese’s words.

He wants to stop the Voice getting an effective veto on government actions – to stop judges from ruling that the government, from Parliament to public servants, couldn’t act until they’d consulted the Voice.

That’s a real danger in Albanese’s model. It would also probably guarantee Australians vote no.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has tried to convince the government’s Aboriginal-only referendum working group to change Albanese’s words. Picture: Gary Ramage

Two of the working group’s own (white) legal advisers, Professor Greg Craven and Father Frank Brennan, have said the same, and were abused by some in the working group as “racist”, “crybaby”, “coward”, “liar” and “white saviour”.

(That’s this referendum working group talking to its own! Imagine how the Voice would talk to you.)

So Dreyfus suggested new words be added to Albanese’s question so Parliament could restrict the power of the Voice by limiting “the legal effect of its representations”.

After all, why should an unelected Aboriginal parliament representing just three per cent of the population be able to hold up the Parliament and government elected by us all, Aborigines included? How undemocratic.

Anthony Albanese’s model would give the Voice would give an effective veto on government actions. Picture: Jeremy Piper

But no dice, said the working group, and that’s where things are stuck, with the government desperate for a deal this month.

But what if the working group won’t compromise? The government would be stuck with a referendum question it knows is dangerous, and would probably sink like a stone.

Or it ignores the working group and adds the extra words, despite its pledge to listen to Aboriginal voices. That would give Aboriginal radicals a new excuse to attack the Voice as a sell out.

It’s a nightmare for the government, especially with support for the Voice already sinking to ominous lows.

In fact, Albanese might even be forced to cancel the referendum if the working group won’t bend. Imagine the protesters.

It’s trouble, whatever happens.

Originally published as Andrew Bolt: The government could be stuck with a referendum question it knows is dangerous