Anthony Albanese ‘won’t focus on hypotheticals’ as Voice date nears

The Prime Minister has warned the Voice is the best – and only shot – at Indigenous recognition.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned no other forms of recognition of Indigenous people will be on the table if the Voice referendum fails.

As a new poll reveals rusted-on no voters are now the majority, Mr Albanese – speaking from Garma festival in northeast Arnhem Land – said there is no alternative.

He said a Voice to Parliament was the specific request First Nations people had made in the Uluru Statement, and nothing else would suffice.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Mr Albanese told ABC News.

“I’m focused on success, not on hypotheticals of what will occur if it is not successful.”

He said that after the defeat of the 1999 Republic referendum, many people thought “it would come around again”, which it has not yet done.

A day earlier, he used a speech to the festival to refuse calls by the Opposition to water down the proposed Voice, or delay the referendum.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Garma Festival. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images)

Mr Albanese said he wouldn’t contemplate legislating a Voice in the event of a majority “No” vote, because such a result would be “a clear sign that it doesn’t have the support of the Australian people”.

“I say this, (Australians) do have the opportunity, not just to do something for Indigenous Australia, but to do something for all of us as well,” Mr Albanese said.

“We are here on the land of the Yolngu people celebrating a culture that is 65,000 years old, as part of the Australian story – but the Australian story isn’t finished.

“What Australians will have in coming months is the opportunity to write the next chapter … (one) that is more inclusive … but also makes practical change to close those gaps.”

Mr Albanese said the Voice is the only form of recognition that will suffice, because it is what Indigenous people asked for. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Mr Albanese also confirmed he would announce the date Australians will head to the polls within “coming weeks”.

His appearance at Garma came after a sitting week plagued by questions about whether the government supported treaty, which the Opposition says could leave the door open to costly reparations.

The government is committed to implementing the Uluru Statement “in full”, which includes Makarrata – truth and treaty.

Mr Albanese on Sunday said his priority remained on ensuring the Voice to parliament was successful.

“My priority is for the referendum. Treaty is being advanced in different places,” he said

Asked whether it would ever happen at a Commonwealth level, as the Uluru Statement asks for, Mr Albanese said his focus was. on the Voice.

He said the nearly $1 million of the $5.8m fund in last October’s budget already spent on Makarrata was “about establishing a structure which will happen”.