NSW Premier leaves door open to state Voice despite referendum defeat

Premier Chris Minns will not rule out legislating an Indigenous Voice to NSW parliament despite Labor supporters across the state emphatically rejecting the idea of inserting a Voice into the constitution.

Premier Chris Minns will not rule out legislating an Indigenous Voice to NSW parliament despite Labor supporters across the state emphatically rejecting the idea of inserting a Voice into the constitution.

An analysis of the referendum results by The Daily Telegraph shows that the electorates that delivered the Minns government its election victory in March voted “no”.

The result has exposed many Labor MPs who supported the Voice – including the Premier himself – as being out of step with their electorates on the issue.

Comparing results in federal electorates with state seats shows that Mr Minns’ seat of Kogarah voted “no”.

Mr Minns conceded on Monday that he was “maybe” out of set with his voters “on this issue”, but said it was important for politicians to have conviction on policies they believe in.

Premier Chris Minns cast his vote for Yes with Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and Mr Minns’ wife, Anna. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE

Electorates in Labor’s Western Sydney heartland also rejected the constitutionally enshrined Voice, including Blacktown, Riverstone, Mount Druitt, Londonderry and Penrith.

Blue Mountains polling booths trended towards a “Yes” vote, but the overlapping federal electorate of Macquarie overall voted no.

The state seat Parramatta also voted no, based on the federal referendum results - as did a raft of others.

Mr Minns has left the door open to legislating a state-based Voice to Parliament despite the overwhelming referendum result.

He said he did not want to pre-empt a year-long consultation process on a state-based Treaty due to start in coming months.

Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty Minister David Harris said the government “respects” the referendum outcome. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Minns on Monday pledged to press ahead with the Treaty consultation process, which could end up calling for a state-based Voice.

He committed $5 million to 12 months of consultations in last month’s budget.

Mr Minns said the “no” vote will be “part of this (Treaty) discussion,” while declaring he would “respect the decision” of NSW voters.

He said pursuing a treaty “was a commitment and of course we’ll stick with it”.

Other states and territories have already begun their own treaty process.

“As difficult and as long as that discussion will be, it is not tolerable that (the process) has not begun in NSW,” he said.

Mr Minns acknowledged that a NSW treaty would require signed agreements with “150 different nations”.

“It’s going to be complex and difficult,” he said.

Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty Minister David Harris said the government “respects” the referendum outcome.

“People on Saturday did not reject reconciliation,” Mr Harris said.

“Australians didn’t vote ‘no’ to better outcomes for Aboriginal people. Australians did not reject working in partnership.

He said the government will have “more to say” about its treaty process “in due course”.

Originally published as NSW Premier leaves door open to state Voice despite referendum defeat