Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says he will ‘fall silent’ if the Voice fails

Noel Pearson says a new generation of indigenous leaders will need to chart a path of reconciliation if the Voice referendum fails.

If the Voice to parliament referendum is rejected, it will up to a new generation of Indigenous leaders to find a new path to reconciliation, Noel Pearson says.

“I will fall silent. That will be the end of it,” he told ABC’s 7.30 on Monday.

“A whole generation of Indigenous leadership will have failed because we will have advocated a coming together in partnership with government and we would have made an invitation to the Australian people that was repudiated.

“I don’t think we have anything left after that. It will be up to a new generation to chart a new course because we will have been rejected.”

Australians will vote later this year in a referendum on whether to alter the Constitution to embed an Indigenous Voice.

The draft amendment – which is yet to be finalised – would allow the advisory body to make representations to parliament and the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney attend the Inner West BBQ for The Voice to Parliament in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

On Saturday, Anthony Albanese encouraged the nation’s leaders to not miss the chance to back the Voice

The federal Liberals are yet to reveal their position on the Voice, which has the support of Coalition state governments in Tasmania and NSW.

The federal Nationals announced last year they would oppose the Voice .

Among those campaigning against the Voice is former prime minister Tony Abbott, which has angered Mr Pearson.

“Absolutely appalled, absolutely appalled with Tony. He was a very strong advocate for constitutional recognition when he was prime minister,” Mr Pearson said.

“I really think that this kind of reflexive opposition that too many like Tony are adopting in relation to this issue is a travesty for the country. Now is the time for us to come together. “Now is the time for us to understand that giving a voice to the first peoples of the country in relation to matters affecting their destiny is the right thing to do, not just for the present generation but for the future.”