Ken Wyatt lends his voice to advise on Indigenous voice referendum

Former Liberal cabinet minister Ken Wyatt is among a group of 20 Indigenous Australians appointed to advise Anthony Albanese on the next steps for a referendum on the voice to parliament.

Former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt. Picture: Colin Murty

Former Liberal cabinet minister Ken Wyatt is among a group of 20 Indigenous Australians appointed to advise Anthony Albanese on the next steps for a referendum on the voice to parliament.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney will tell a conference in Canberra on Thursday the referendum working group will advise the government on the timing of the vote and give suggestions on how the Prime Minister’s proposed question and constitutional amendments can be refined.

The group will also suggest information on the voice that should be distributed to the public to ensure the success of the referendum.

The group, which is co-chaired by Ms Burney and West Australian senator Pat Dodson, will meet with the Prime Minister on Friday to “discuss the road forward”.

Other members of the group are prominent supporters of the voice including Noel Pearson, Dean Parkin, Megan Davis, Marcia Langton, Tom Calma and Pat Anderson.

It will also include Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner, who previously warned she may not support the voice unless there was more detail released on how the body would function.

Mr Wyatt was Indigenous Australians minister in the past government, which opposed a constitutionally enshrined voice. He has since thrown his support behind the proposal.

Ms Burney will tell the Committee for Economic Development of Australia forum on Thursday there will also be a second “referendum engagement group” that will be established to build community awareness and advocate for the voice.

“The referendum engagement group will comprise representatives from the across the country including land councils, local governments and community-controlled service organisations,” she will say, adding that the “necessary ingredients to winning the referendum” are working closely with First Nations leaders and building broad community support for the proposal.

With the government expected to leave the funding of the campaign to the private sector, Ms Burney will say the “government cannot lead this referendum”.

“This will come from the grassroots, from communities – because the Voice is a nation-building project,” she will say.

“We will need a united Yes campaign that captures the attention and the imagination of the Australian people.

“Everyone has a part to play. From sports clubs and schools to community groups. And, of course, the business community.”

Ms Burney will point out that the ACTU and leading businesses have already thrown their support behind the campaign.