Anthony Albanese’s message for Peter Dutton at community Voice barbecue

Anthony Albanese has issued a warning to Peter Dutton just days after the opposition leader apologised for one thing.

Anthony Albanese has urged the nation’s leaders to not miss the chance to back the Voice to Parliament ahead of a referendum later this year.

The Prime Minister attended a community barbecue in his Sydney electorate on Saturday afternoon ahead of the official launch of the “yes” campaign.

Speaking to a crowd of hundreds at Petersham Park, Mr Albanese urged attendees to consider “if not how, when?”

“This is not about symbolism or practical outcomes,” he said.

“The voice is a means to an end – to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia. On education, on health, on housing, on incarceration rates, on life expectancy, and on infant mortality.”

He told the crowd the referendum, due in the second half of the year, was a chance to “unite our nation”.

Mr Albanese addressed the crowd on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“I say to those in positions of political leadership, do not miss this opportunity this time,” Mr Albanese said.

The Prime Minister’s comments come just days after opposition leader Peter Dutton apologised for boycotting the Rudd government’s apology to the stolen generation.

On Monday, Mr Dutton told parliament he now regrets not attending the 2008 apology, saying he failed to grasp the “symbolic significance” of the moment at the time.

He appeared alongside Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Hundreds came out to support the campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The Liberal leader attended a working group for the voice referendum on Friday, where he raised concern the yes campaign was on track to fail.

Mr Dutton wants to see changes to the wording of the referendum to limit the breadth of influence of the body and for Mr Albanese to release more detail on its make-up.

The Liberals have yet to come to a position on if it will support the referendum.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Voice to Parliament have kicked off a week of action to convince everyday Australians about the need for the referendum.

Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney, who attended the barbecue alongside the Prime Minister, will crisscross the country to drum up support for the yes campaign.

She told the crowd in Sydney on Saturday that she hoped they would “vote a big fat yes” for change.

“Those who are not with us are looking to the past,” she said.