Referendum in reach for Aboriginal ‘voice’: Kenneth Wiltshire

A former adviser on constitutional amendments considers the proposed Aboriginal Voice to parliament to be well thought out.

Professor Kenneth Wiltshire. Picture: Jack Tran

The proposed Aboriginal “voice” to parliament is well thought out and a referendum on the issue can be easily achieved before the next election, it has been claimed.

In an essay in The Australian today, a former adviser on constitutional amendments, Council for Economic Policy member Kenneth Wiltshire, writes: “It is hard not to wonder what all the fuss is about regarding this proposal. In fact, it could be argued that, by international standards, our indigenous community are selling themselves short by simply proposing a voice to parliament.

“In New Zealand there are seven seats reserved for Maoris in the parliament. There are four clauses regarding indigenous rights in the Canadian constitution, and a completely new Province Nunavit was created to be governed by Inuit of the Arctic region. Even the American constitution refers to the relationship ­between indigenous tribes and the government. Some Scandinavian constitutions, particular Norway, have similar approaches.”

The 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart was the result of 13 regional dialogues around Australia and calls for an indigenous voice to the federal parliament ­enshrined in the constitution. Then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull rejected it as potentially a “third chamber of parliament”.

Since then, there has been support for the voice from the corporate sector, including from mining giant BHP, which has donated $1 million for an education campaign ahead of a referendum.

Professor Wiltshire said Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt was correct that the voice to parliament concept needed more development and explanation.