JOURNALIST: So what are you out here doing today?
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: We're out here joining the Yes23 campaign. Doorknocking the community of Yokine, to talk about constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament. It's such a great opportunity to have those one-on-one conversations.
We think here we'll get to maybe 800 to 1000 doors. And what is really special about a referendum is that every vote matters. Whether it be here in Western Australia, in New South Wales, Tasmania; every Australian gets to have a say. So we're making sure that people have got the information they need. They can ask our volunteers questions, and we've got twenty volunteers here today. They're all just giving up their Saturday morning because they want to see change.
JOURNALIST: What's your pitch to someone on the door and to people at home tonight?
GORMAN: If you want better outcomes, if you want better value for money, if you want to make sure that we continue making big steps forward on reconciliation, vote Yes. If you want to make sure that we continue to close the gap between Aboriginal and non-First Nations people, vote Yes. If you want to see better value for your money as a taxpayer, vote Yes.
JOURNALIST: A separate issue, yes, but did the Prime Minister have any conversations with the WA Government about the impact the Aboriginal Heritage Laws were having on confusing Western Australians with the Voice?
GORMAN: The Commonwealth Government's been very clear that this is a state matter. It's up to state parliaments to decide on these sorts of heritage laws. We'll leave it to them to make their comments about what's happening with the future of those laws. What we've been really clear about is that this is about the Constitution. This is about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution. That's something that no state or federal parliament can make happen. That's something that only Australian people can make happen by the vote that we'll have later this year.
JOURNALIST: Is the Prime Minister worried that noise about you know, these cultural issues is impacting what the Voice is supposed to be getting at, you know, these side issues getting in the way of the priority for the Voice?
GORMAN: The Prime Minister, other ministers, myself, the community recognise that the Australian people know that this question is a constitutional question. It's not a question about the day to day policy debates, which we'll continue to have in state parliaments, federal parliaments; this question is about something that's long term. About that big change. And it's an idea that's been around since 2017. This is a long term project. And I know that the Australian people here in my community of Perth and across Australia, will see that this is a standalone question, separate to any other matter. And I think most people recognise that if you look at the Albanese Government, which I'm really proud to be a part of, we've been able to do all of those important things like cheaper medicines, cheaper childcare, getting wages moving, and look at these big important questions of constitutional change.
JOURNALIST: Those are all my questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add today?
GORMAN: I just say to anyone who's watching this campaign; if you're not sure, go and find information. And if you believe that we should change the Constitution, get involved. Volunteer. Come join us for the next doorknock.