‘Front and centre’: New WA Premier Roger Cook’s big call on Voice referendum

The new West Australian Premier left no doubt where he stood on one key issue after Mark McGowan’s shock resignation.

Incoming West Australian premier Roger Cook has thrown his support behind the Indigenous Voice to parliament and executive government shortly after emerging as Mark McGowan’s replacement.

At a press conference in Perth confirming he will become WA’s 31st premier after serving as Mr McGowan’s deputy, Mr Cook said he would be “front and centre” of the WA campaign for a “yes” vote at the referendum to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution.

“It’s not just important for WA — it’s important for the nation,” he said on Wednesday.

“This is a historical moment for everyone in this nation to stand up and do the right thing.”

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney foreshadowed Mr Cook’s decision earlier on Wednesday when she told reporters in Canberra that she was confident Mr McGowan’s successor would back the Voice proposal no matter who it was.

Ms Burney brushed off suggestions she was concerned about losing Mr McGowan – a very popular leader in his home state who was also a strong supporter of the Indigenous Voice – from the debate on whether to embed the advisory body in the Constitution.

Speaking two days after Mr McGowan announced his shock resignation from politics after six years in the top job and a 30-year political career, Ms Burney said she had “no doubt” his replacement would be very supportive of the proposal.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney says she is confident the referendum will succeed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“All first ministers have committed to supporting the Voice,” Ms Burney said.

“We certainly see that (new NSW Premier) Chris Minns very supportive and I have no doubt that the new leader of the West Australian party will be as well.”

Ms Burney said she was positive the referendum would succeed, despite polling suggesting the government still has a lot of work to do to convince a majority of voters in a majority of states to vote “Yes” before the referendum is held sometime in the final three months of the year.

“I have absolute faith in the (Yes) campaigns. I hear the doomsday people. But I know the work that’s been done and I know many of the individuals that are involved and coming on board,” she said.

“This is where the campaign actually gets into full swing … it will be absolutely positive and it will be something that Australians will respond to.

“Remember, they’ve got several months to the referendum and there is no doubt in my mind that we are going to have a successful outcome.”

Ms Burney made the remarks shortly after the lower house firmed up the question the government will put to Australians at a referendum to enshrine the Indigenous Voice to parliament and executive government in the Constitution.

The Albanese government’s referendum legislation passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday morning, with 121 votes for and 25 against.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will campaign against the Voice proposal. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Constitution Alteration Bill – which sets out the question and amendment that Australians will vote on in the Voice referendum – now goes to the Senate.

The upper house is expected to vote on the Bill in the final sitting fortnight in June before parliament takes its winter break.

The Liberal frontbench voted in favour of the legislation to support a referendum being held, even though their federal party room is opposed to enshrining the Voice in the Constitution and senior party figures will campaign for a “No” vote.

But 10 Liberal backbenchers, including Ian Goodenough and Tony Pasin, voted with the Nationals against the referendum legislation.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said earlier on Wednesday his party believed Australia needed “a better bureaucracy, not a bigger one”.

“If it was just about constitutional recognition … the Nationals would support it,” he told ABC News.

“If this was a statement of fact about Indigenous Australians being here first, (our approach would be) we’ve made many mistakes, but we’re better having been together and better sticking together.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s got a lot more difficult because the Prime Minister has complicated it, and he hasn’t brought details forward.”

The Constitution Alteration Bill passed the lower house of parliament on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Littleproud claimed embedding the Voice in the Constitution would give Indigenous Australians “a greater say than their fellow Australians”.

On Tuesday, Anthony Albanese used a speech in Adelaide to call out incorrect or misleading information he said was being spread about the Voice proposal.

“I respect the fact some people will come to a different conclusion, that’s their right to in a democracy, but it would be good if we kept the debate on a realistic plane and not jump at shadows,” he said.

Over the last week, 118 MPs have used their opportunities to speak in parliament to make a case for or against the Voice.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton delivered a speech in which he described the Voice as an Orwellian tool which he claimed would “re-racialise” and divide the country.

But the Prime Minister Anthony spoke passionately in support of the Voice, which he said was “powerful, uplifting symbolism in recognising the First Peoples of Australia”.

Originally published as ‘Front and centre’: New WA Premier Roger Cook’s big call on Voice referendum