Indigenous Voice: Minister Linda Burney’s bid to win support from Opposition

Kimberley CainesThe West Australian
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Camera IconEAST ARNHEM, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Australian Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney attends the Garma Festival at Gulkula on July 30, 2022 in East Arnhem, Australia. The annual Garma festival is held at Gulkula, a significant ceremonial site for the Yolngu people of northeast Arnhem Land about 40km from Nhulunbuy on the Gove peninsula in East Arnhem. The festival is a celebration of Yolngu culture aimed at sharing culture and knowledge which also brings politicians and Indigenous leaders together to discuss issues facing Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year is the first time the festival has been held since 2019 following a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Tamati Smith/Getty Images) Credit: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney is trying to win over support from the Opposition for a Voice to Parliament, saying it will bring both practical and symbolic outcomes.

The Coalition spent Monday calling for more detail on the proposal after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the draft wording of a simple “yes” or “no” referendum question asking whether an Indigenous Voice should be enshrined in the constitution.

Ms Burney said there was an “overwhelming” sense of excitement in the Indigenous community for the Voice and that the process would not be rushed.

“A Voice to Parliament is about both symbolism and practical outcomes — practical outcomes like education, housing and family violence,” Ms Burney told parliament during Question Time on Monday.

“A Voice to the Parliament means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders will be consulted and heard on policies that affect them, practical outcomes that will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

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The Albanese Government has committed to a referendum in its first term and to eventually implement the statement in full, with a potential national vote to be held on May 27 — the 56th anniversary of the landmark 1967 referendum on Indigenous recognition.

Mr Albanese said details about the Voice — how it would be operated — would be worked out following consultation but that it would only act as an advisory body and not as a third chamber of Parliament.

“Five years on (from the Uluru Statement from the Heart), it’s time that we all walked the walk with Indigenous Australians,” he said.

“It is not a matter of special treatment. It is not a matter of preferential power, it is about consulting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on decisions that affect them.”

It comes after the Voice debate was not welcomed by all.

Labor MP Marion Scrymgour hit back at Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price for taking to social media to say the proposal was being driven by “Indigenous elites” who had “spent their lives on the gravy train”.

Camera IconAustralian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during the Garma Festival at Gulkula on July 30. Credit: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

“The Voice to Parliament is the gravy train attempting to ingrain itself into the constitution so despite its failures and lack of accountability can never be dismantled,” Senator Price said.

“I think it’s Labor who are confused about the detail of the Voice or whether it will be defined before or after a referendum.”

But Ms Scrymgour said the comments were “a bit offensive”.

“I was one of the facilitators that started the conversation almost five or six years ago,” Ms Scrymgour told Sky News.

“It’s not symbolism and it hasn’t been a gravy train.”

She said it was important to draw a distinction between Indigenous representation in parliament and the creation of a separate voice to Parliament.

“They are two separate things,” she said.

“(It will not) replace my position as an elected official in the Australian Parliament.”

Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said Australians required more information in the referendum question before making a call on it.

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