Indigenous voice to parliament: Linda Burney didn’t do enough to reset the narrative

Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Linda Burney’s mission was simple.

In her address to the press club on Wednesday, the Minister for Indigenous Australians needed to reset the narrative on the voice, clarify its function and begin a new conversation over what Australians are being asked to vote for.

Instead, she lectured the media, warned against the importation of Trumpian politics and offered rhetorical answers to reasonable requests for more detail.

This is telling on two levels.

On one level it reflects an unshakeable belief held by Burney – one seemingly shared by Anthony Albanese – that despite polling to the contrary, the Yes campaign will ultimately prevail.

On another, it implies an inherent admission of a referendum in a state of prefail.

It has been Burney’s inability to present a clear articulation of how the voice will function and what it may or may not provide advice on that has become the critical issue that has undermined her underlying conviction.

Wednesday’s press call was meant to be the reset that would begin to shift the dial back in favour of the Yes case.

The principles were sound.

In linking practical outcomes to the purpose of the voice and implying that it will be the government that dictates what the voice can and cannot make representations on, Burney attempted to reassure waiverers that the voice would not be engaged in the trivial.

But in doing do, and startlingly, the minister left open the possibility that the government could seek to legislate what the voice may or may not be able to make representations on.

Even constitutional lawyers supporting the voice will argue that this would bring the government into direct conflict with the constitutional alteration being proposed.

Burney brings a passion to the voice debate that may inspire many Australians. There can be no question that as one of the country’s leading Indigenous voices, she is more qualified than most in cabinet to speak to this debate.

Her press club recital, and the ease and confidence in answering questions from the media, was perhaps Burney at her best. Charming and engaging with her immediate audience.

But this is not enough.

A greater level of political skill that speaks beyond Canberra will be required to navigate what is now a heavily contested debate.

The Opposition sensed that Burney was a weak spot for the government by singling her out in parliament.

Burney’s speech was an opportunity to try and address this vulnerability.

Any objective assessment must cast doubt on whether that has been achieved in any significant measure. If for no other reason than it left as many questions unanswered as those the government needs to satisfy.