Teal backs voice, even if it fails referendum

Teal independents have assured the Albanese government of their support for the voice even if the referendum fails.

Teal independents have told the Prime Minister they will support a move to legislate the voice regardless of the results of the referendum.

Teal independents are rallying around the Prime Minister’s refusal to legislate the Indigenous voice to parliament before it goes to a referendum, while some have assured their support for the body even if the referendum fails.

Anthony Albanese this week would not rule out legislating the voice in the case of a no vote at the referendum, and stood firm against calls for legislation to be released ahead of question being put to the Australian people.

Nationals’ leader David Littleproud, who ruled out reconsidering his party’s position on the voice even if legislation was first presented to parliament, said ignoring a no vote would be “disrespectful” to the Australian people.

“If the government goes to the Australian people to ask them a question and the result comes back not what they wanted and then to go and legislate it, I don’t think respects our democratic process,” he told the Australian.

Teals including Zali Stegall would support legislating the voice without a ‘yes’ vote.

However, independent Zali Steggall said while the lack of constitutional recognition would be disappointing, she would be on-board with legislating the voice even without a “yes” vote.

“Enshrining a voice to parliament in the Constitution provides constitutional recognition of Australia’s First Nations’ people and it protects it from being repealed by future governments,” she said.

“If the referendum is unsuccessful, I would support legislating a voice to parliament, but it is not the same as it omits the very important constitutional recognition.”

Other teals said they had not yet decided on what they would do if legislation was presented after a failed referendum, but made clear they were against a bill being presented to parliament before the question on changing the constitution was first put to Australians.

“I think legislation before referendum is putting the cart before the horse because I actually think the most important part of this process is that it’s a principles-based approached and that we are saying as a nation ‘we are ready to move forward’. Legislation doesn’t make that happen,” North Sydney independent Kylea Tink said.

Mackellar independent Sophie Scamps said the Opposition’s suggestion to legislate the voice before a referendum and its push for more detail was “reminiscent of the republic referendum”, which she said was derailed by the debate getting caught up in the “minutiae” rather than core principles.

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender said she also wanted the voice enshrined in the constitution.

“The First Australians were left out of the constitution in 1901. That’s a glaring historical failure that undermines the great achievements of our nation,” she said.

“The Voice provides appropriate recognition and establishes a permanent representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that will right that wrong and deliver better practical outcomes in closing the gap.”

Member for Kooyong Monique Ryan said while she was “very supportive of the need for a voice to parliament” she believed many Australians required more information about the body.

The Liberals and Greens are yet to formally announce their position on the voice, but acting Greens leader Mehreen Faruqi said the decision for her party would be made early next month.

“Party room will meet early next month to discuss Labor’s plan and decide on our formal position,” she said.