Ken Wyatt vows to ‘find common ground’ for referendum on indigenous voice

Ken Wyatt wants to “walk with people on all sides” to find a model of constitutional recognition that will succeed.

Minister for indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt during his address to the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt says he wants to “walk with people on all sides of politics” to find a model of constitutional recognition that will succeed in a referendum within this term of parliament.

Australia’s first Aboriginal cabinet minister said he was “committed” to a referendum in the 46th parliament that would recognise indigenous Australian in the constitution.

But Mr Wyatt warned he would refuse to bring on the public vote unless he could see it had broad support. Mr Wyatt said the government was also committed to an indigenous voice to parliament but the body, which would advise government on Aboriginal issues.

The body could be created by legislation without being referenced in the constitution, as called for by indigenous leaders.

“The plate is an oyster in terms of options that we have to seriously consider,” Mr Wyatt said in a speech this afternoon at the National Press Club in Canberra.

The West Australian MP said his most critical role was to find “common ground” between the wishes of indigenous activists and those who are sceptical of the need for constitutional recognition.

“I’ve got to find common ground. And there are diverse views. It is about how do you bring the majority to common ground that is acceptable that we can win a referendum? That is the challenge. And I am up to that and I am prepared to walk with people on all sides of politics and all sides of the community to hear their view and reach a point which we can agree,” Mr Wyatt said.

“Sometimes we can aspire to an optimum outcome but we also have to accept there is a pragmatic element to constitutional referenda. I would rather us in the psyche of this nation have a win on a referendum than have a loss.”

Mr Wyatt said if the referendum failed the issue would “gather dust” like the republic has.

“I don’t want to proceed if we don’t have the right question. We will work towards having a referendum in term of the parliament and we are committed to it,” Mr Wyatt said.

“But I am also going to use judicial and wise judgment as to whether we will fail, along with my cabinet colleagues, the Prime Minister, and the indigenous leadership.

“Because if it does not look as though it is going to be accepted then it should not proceed.”

The model for indigenous recognition will be created through a period of co-design with indigenous people and consultation across the political aisle.

Mr Wyatt said he would reach out the parliament’s biggest opponent on constitutional recognition, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, declaring he “admired” the outspoken Queensland senator.

Move faster: Dodson

Opposition indigenous affairs spokesman Linda Burney said Labor wanted the indigenous voice enshrined in the constitution, as recommended by the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017.

“I think Labor has been saying clearly that we would like a voice entrenched in the Australian constitution, and I know that there are many people on the government benches that also believe that. I think that is ultimately what we would want to see,” Ms Burney told the ABC.

“But let’s have the discussion, let’s have the consultation, and let’s also importantly, look at the work that’s being done over the last decade. Labor is certainly up for a collaborative approach on this, but of course it needs to be what people in the community are saying.

“There will be points of difference and we will have to work through those points of difference. Bipartisanship is not a race to the bottom.”

Opposition spokesman for reconciliation Pat Dodson — who would have been indigenous affairs minister if Bill Shorten won the election — said the government should move faster on a referendum.

Senator Dodson said the government should legislate the voice in the next six months and work towards a referendum within a year.

“I would think he could do it a lot quicker. There obviously has to be consensus and successful referendums really require bipartisanship. We know that the Labor Party is up to this so it’s a question of him getting his party organised and getting the consultations with First Nations underway and the clarity around the model,” Senator Dodson said.

“That shouldn’t take more than six months to eight months.”