LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: On Saturday night, Peter Dutton said the one test of his leadership was Liberal Party internals. Today’s decision is about Liberal party internals. It has nothing to do with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or taking Australia forward together. The referendum later this year is about two things – it’s about recognition and it’s about listening. And the Australian people will decide this referendum, not politicians. The Constitution is the people’s document. And only the Australian people can change the Constitution. We need to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the ground in communities. Listen to their needs and aspirations. Listen to how issues can be solved together and create a better future, for everybody. There has been consultation with First Nations people right across Australia. Mr Dutton’s criticism is predictable. But despite his obsession, their obsession with the Prime Minister - this is not about politicians. This is about Closing the Gap. Our guiding principle in this debate has been the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart – the generous request from First Nations leaders to the Australian people to walk together to a better future. And I quote the Uluru Statement: “We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.” The Uluru Statement came from regional dialogues - with the input of over a thousand First Nations people across the country. This is about constitutional recognition. Recognition that makes a practical difference on the ground for Indigenous people. Recognition that can help close the gap. Recognition of the 65,000 years of connection to country and culture. Unfortunately, Mr Dutton doesn’t know where he stands. Mr Dutton is tying himself in knots. Apparently, he’s for a Voice, but against it, and his backbenchers won’t be bound by this position. That’s about as clear as mud. Now the Prime Minister has met with Mr Dutton 7 times. 7 times. And at no time did Mr Dutton make suggestions to the constitutional amendments. If Mr Dutton supported the Voice, he would have supported Ken Wyatt’s proposal in the Morrison government. And he didn’t. Today is also the anniversary of the release Bringing Them Home Report. That landmark report released in 1997 called on the Australian Government to apologise to the Stolen Generations. It took a while, but in 2008 Prime Minister Rudd apologised – alongside Anthony Albanese and almost all others in the parliament. But Mr Dutton boycotted the Apology. And I hope Mr Dutton doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. I know there are many good Liberal MPs and Senators who support constitutional recognition. MPs like Bridget Archer who I travelled to Flinders Island with recently. I also want to acknowledge the continued strong support from all states and territories. And their support through their leadership, through Premiers and Chief Ministers, of constitutional recognition. I want to say loud and clear, loud and clear that the Labor government supports regional voices. Regional voices are already being rolled out, in places like South Australia and Victoria, where there has been much progress. The Voice will make sure that voices in remote and regional communities are heard. And it is simply misleading for Mr Dutton to suggest anything otherwise. I believe that the 2023 referendum will unite Australia. It will bring people together, and it will move Australia forward for a better future. So, together, we say “Yes” to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. And together, let’s say “Yes” to constitutional recognition through a Voice. Happy to take questions
JOURNALIST: Minister Burney what would be the consequences for Indigenous Australians and Australia more broadly if the Voice referendum was to fail.
LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: The Voice referendum is something that will be one of the most uniting moments in this country. I believe and I have faith, I believe and I have faith in the Australian people, that they will see that recognition, finally of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution, it's time has come. We look forward to a successful referendum later this year.
JOURNALIST: Minister Burney, would you consider changing the wording of the amendments to bring Coalition frontbenchers on-side?
LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: There has been an extensive, months and months and months of consultation with the First Nations communities right across this country, through the Constitutional Working Group, through the Referendum Working Group through the Referendum Expert Panel on legal matters. We have worked assiduously, we have worked faithfully and we have worked carefully to make sure that the question and the amendments are the ones that are going to provide, what is envisaged by the Voice and also be very, very clear in terms of the role of the parliament, and its role in putting the Voice forward. And I have to say very, very definitely, that the consultation process has been careful, has been deliberate and has been thorough, and we believe that we have arrived at the right questions and the right amendments to the Constitution.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned that this will hurt the referendum’s chance of success?
LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: The position of the government has been very clear for a very long time. There will be a referendum later this year between the months of October and December. At the end of the day, this is not a political play thing. This is a decision that the Australian people will make and I have faith in the Australian people.
JOURNALIST: Could the government have done more to try and achieve bipartisanship on this issue?
LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: The Prime Minister has met with the Leader of the Opposition 7 times. 7 times and not at one point, did the Leader of the Opposition offer any changes to the amendments, changes to the words. And what we see now is very similar to what the Prime Minister put forward in August last year at Gama. We believe that we have worked very closely, and I have had many meetings with the Shadow Minister and our door has always been open. We've made that extremely clear, right from the very beginning of this, this last part of the process. And let's remember the Uluru Statement has not fallen from the sky in the last six months. It was released to the Australian people as an invitation almost six years ago, and there have been at least 10 years, 10 years of reports, lots of work, lots of committees that have brought us to today.
JOURNALIST: Minister Burney, if I could just follow up from a previous question, could you answer whether this is a blow or not to the prospect of a successful referendum?
LINDA BURNEY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: I can only repeat what I have said. I hope that the Liberal Party is not repeating mistakes of the past. There is enormous support and momentum in the Australian community for this referendum. People want to live in a country where there is proper recognition of an amazing gift that Aboriginal people bring to this country, the oldest continuous surviving culture on the planet. I truly hope that the Liberal Party re-examines its position. But I can assure you that the government is committed, along with tens of thousands, millions of Australians towards recognition and making sure that we have a mechanism that is going to move the dial on the unacceptable Closing the Gap targets in Australia.