Dutton to help design Voice if Yes wins: PM

Anthony Albanese has pledged that if the Yes campaign prevails, the Coalition will have an equal role in shaping the design of the Voice to Parliament.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised the Coalition will have an equal say in the design of the Voice to Parliament should the Yes campaign succeed.

Speaking at the launch of the Uniting Church’s Yes campaign in Sydney, Mr Albanese said he would establish a Joint Parliamentary Committee to determine the design of the Voice advisory group in an attempt to allay fears over insufficient detail.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Yes supporters in Sydney to launch the Uniting Church’s campaign in support of the Voice to parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The committee would be co-chaired by Labor and the Coalition members.

“I indicated this when I met with [Opposition leader] Peter Dutton and [Nationals leader] David Littleproud, way back in March, and I’ve confirmed that in a discussion that I’ve had with Peter Dutton, just over this weekend,” Mr Albanese said.

“I think it’s important that if Australians vote Yes, that we move forward together to put in place the legislation with as broad as support as possible, in order to show the same spirit that we’re asking Australians to show by voting Yes, on October 14.”

The federal Coalition formally opposes the proposal to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution, claiming that there is insufficient detail to warrant the change.

When Australians head to the polls to cast their vote to enshrine the advisory body in the Constitution, they will be asked to answer the following:

Dutton and a majority of Coalition MPs are opposed to the Voice. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

To succeed, the referendum needs to secure a ‘double majority’ – a hurdle that requires majority support across the country, and majority support in at least four of six states.

Less than three weeks out from voting day, advocates for the Voice are well behind in published polls, with sentiment against the proposal solidifying.