Indigenous voice to parliament: Anthony Albanese lands at the heart of the matter

Anthony Albanese has urged the nation to ‘grasp in friendship’ the outstretched hand Indigenous Australians have offered with the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Anthony Albanese with the Uluru Statement from the Heart on Tuesday: ‘A hand outstretched for us to grasp in friendship’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Anthony Albanese has urged the nation to “grasp in friendship” the outstretched hand Indigenous Australians have offered with the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister arrived at Uluru to meet with traditional owners, Central Land Council delegates and Uluru Statement artists, as part of a last-minute blitz ahead of Saturday’s referendum vote on the voice to parliament.

“Your talents have given our nation a masterpiece,” he said. “An artwork that is every bit as powerful as the words it surrounds and every bit as generous as the statement it completes.

“The most beautiful thing about the picture you have painted is you have left room in it for all of us. For all Australians.”

He said it was extraordinary to think that the culture on display stretched back 65,000 years.

“On Saturday, that culture is reaching out to Australia: a hand outstretched for us to grasp in friendship. A chance to celebrate the richness of our shared history and to work together for a better future.

“And on Saturday Australians can bring the beauty of this art to life with a grey lead pencil and one word – Yes.”

Mr Albanese appeared emotional as he sat and held hands with senior Anangu women who were singing, and also performed a traditional dance.

He was positive about the prospects of the referendum.

“I believe that Australia can rise to the occasion between now (and) on October 14,” he said.

“We have just four days now in which Australia can be an enlarged country, a country at peace with our history, a country more unified, a country able to move forward in the words of the Uluru Statement itself, walking together for that better future,” he said.

He said it was “one of the great honours” of his life to be involved in the campaign.

Central Land Council CEO Lesley Turner praised the “courage” of the Prime Minister and the commitment he had made to Indigenous Australians.

“I’d like to encourage all Australians on Saturday get to the booth to improve the lives of ­Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people in this country.”

Earlier, Mr Albanese was confronted with polling showing the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari was set to vote No for the voice.

In an interview with Sky News, Mr Albanese said there was a “sense of history” in the voice referendum and he hoped Australians “take this opportunity to vote Yes”.

When it was put to him that polls indicated the referendum would likely emerge unsuccessful, including in the seat of Lingiari, from where the Prime Minister was speaking, Mr Albanese was dismissive. “You know, we’ll wait and see what happens on Saturday,” he said.