A historic step towards a referendum on a voice to parliament has been taken, with a message for the “doubters and wreckers” holding the nation back.
The words to alter the Australian constitution to enshrine an Indigenous voice were presented to federal parliament on Thursday.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus introduced the bill, setting the wheels in motion for a referendum later this year.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said the bill’s introduction was history in the making and a step towards improving the lives of Indigenous people.
“This referendum is not about politicians and it’s not about lawyers,” she told reporters.
“It’s about the Australian people having a say in the future of our country … so that we can recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our founding document.”
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in the chamber for the speech, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was absent.
Mr Dutton has not revealed whether the Liberal Party would support a voice to parliament.
Ms Burney said she hadn’t taken much notice of Mr Dutton’s absence and the government still had “enormous hope” the Liberals would provide bipartisanship.
“There will always be those that seek to hold us back. Those doubters, those wreckers, they want to hold Australia back,” she said.
“Well, we want to take Australia forward more united, more hopeful and more reconciled than ever before.”
Ms Burney said the proposed alteration was a simple question to the Australian people and the result of much consultation and hard work.
Mr Dreyfus said in his speech the alteration would rectify more than 120 years of the explicit exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from Australia’s constitution.
“Recognition through a voice is neither the beginning nor the end of this story but it is an important new chapter,” he told parliament.
“It is now 2023. It is time to accept the generous invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It is time to listen.”
Despite the efforts of successive governments, Mr Dreyfus said steps to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians had not succeeded.
“It is time for a different approach. It is a time to open a new chapter. It is time to listen,” he said.
The constitutional change will involve adding three clauses saying:
“There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to parliament and the executive government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
“The parliament shall, subject to this constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
The attorney-general said the provision would not impact the ordinary functioning of Australia’s democratic system but would enhance democracy.
“It will be a matter for the parliament to determine whether the executive government is under any obligation in relation to representations made by the voice,” he said.
The prime minister said he had the words of the Uluru Statement framed in his office.
He said more and more Australians, businesses and charity groups were taking up the invitation to support the Indigenous voice.
“There is goodwill from school groups, community groups, local councils – all want to be a part of this historic, unifying moment – sporting organisations, leaders of every faith in Australia,” he said.
“All of these bodies uniting for a better Australia, uniting in a positive way.”
© AAP 2023
