Budget 2022: Voice referendum ‘coming sooner than expected’

Uluru backers say all signs are pointing to a referendum on the Indigenous voice in the second half of next year.

Uluru Dialogues leader Eddie Synot.

Uluru backers say all signs are pointing to a referendum on the Indigenous voice in the second half of next year, after the Labor Party added $50.2m to the contingency fund for the cost of asking Australians whether they agreed that the existence of an Indigenous ­advisory body should be protected in the ­Constitution.

Uluru Dialogues leader Eddie Synot said it was now clear there was enough in the referendum kitty. This is because the $50.2m announced on Tuesday is in addition to a $160m contingency fund established in 2016.

“I think it’s important confirmation that it is happening,” Mr Synot said.

“And it indicates that it is going to be sooner rather than later. So not stretching out to 2024.

“The government is putting these things in place for a reason.

“These are measures that are coming through sooner than some expected so it’s a good indication they’re not wasting time, that plans are moving and they’re bringing the referendum forward.”

Anthony Albanese has previously said the referendum would be held between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

However, Tuesday’s budget announcement has been interpreted bt many as a signal that a referendum bill could be ready as early as the first quarter of 2023.

The money for a referendum comes as the federal government commits $5.8m to the two other elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart - truth-telling and agreement making, or treaty.

In the landmark statement delivered at Uluru in May 2017, about 250 delegates prioritised the voice as the first step.

After that came truth-telling and then treaty.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said the $5.8m would be used to ­commence work on establishing an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee processes for agreement-making and truth-telling, as part of the ­government’s $27.7m election commitment.