Liberals want ‘orthodox’ approach for voice

Peter Dutton told the Albanese government they weren’t operating under conventional measures regarding the referendum and wants to see Labor engage with his feedback.

The Liberal Party want Labor to take a ‘more orthodox’ approach to the voice referendum.

The Liberal Party is demanding Anthony Albanese set up a constitutional convention in the lead up to the referendum on the Indigenous voice to parliament, saying a “more orthodox” approach is needed.

The Opposition leader and his legal affairs spokesman, Julian Leeser, left their first meeting with the government’s referendum working group on Thursday with new calls for a constitutional convention and public committees so Australians could debate the voice proposal and make alternative suggestions.

Mr Leeser, a long-time supporter of the voice who says the government is at risk of losing his vote because of a lack of detail, said he did not learn anything in the meeting he didn’t already know.

“Peter Dutton pointed out in discussions that the government hadn’t adopted the usual orthodox processes in relation to this particular referendum of having a constitutional convention or a committee,” Mr Leeser said.

“We accepted the government‘s invitation to meet with the referendum working group. We now ask the government to accept our invitation and engage with the questions that Peter Dutton put in January about the (voice’s) scope and content.

“In previous referenda, there have been things like constitutional conventions, there have been public committees where people can debate the detail of what’s going on.”

The last constitutional convention was in 1998 in Canberra. It was convened by then-prime minister John Howard, ahead of the republic referendum, which failed.

Peter Dutton is asking Labor to engage with the questions he has posed over the voice.

Mr Dutton will again meet the referendum working group - comprised of 21 Indigenous leaders from around Australia - at the end of the month, indicating the Liberal Party could hold off formalising its position on the voice until March or later.

Uluru Dialogue co-chair Megan Davis was hopeful about Mr Dutton’s decision to keep talking to key Indigenous voice proponents. But she stressed the ultimate decision about the voice lay with the Australian public.

“We believe that constitutional recognition through a voice is something that deserves broad support across the community,” Professor Davis said after the meeting.

“Bipartisanship is something we would welcome. We welcome Peter Dutton‘s commitment to further talks on the voice recognition referendum.

“The Australian people will determine the outcome of this referendum, not politicians.

“The Constitution is the people’s document. Politicians can’t change it. Parliament can’t change it. Only you, the Australian people, can change it.”

The Opposition Leader said he came to the debate with goodwill and respect, but added: “The Prime Minister’s refusal to answer straightforward questions on how his voice proposal will work is untenable. Australians deserve to be informed before voting at a referendum.”

Australians could go to a referendum in October, under Labor’s plan, but the referendum working group confirmed on Thursday that if Australians vote yes, the legislation on the voice design would come after consultations with Indigenous people on a proposed model. The working group described this as crucial.

Mr Leeser suggested a “comprehensive document” outlining how the voice would work to ease Australians’ “fears”.

Mr Albanese told the referendum working group he wanted everyone possible to be part of the journey towards reconciliation but noted no politician had suggested an alternative to his draft wording to be put in the Constitution or question to be put to the Australian people.

“But I‘m up for it,” he said.

“This is something that has come, as you know, from the bottom up. It has come from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - yourselves. And that is why it’s so important that this is successful. And I assure you of my personal commitment as well as the government’s commitment going forward. I‘m very hopeful and optimistic about an outcome later this year.”