The NSW opposition leader will support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum this year, despite his federal party’s opposition to the vote.
Key points:
- Mr Speakman has made it clear it is his personal view and NSW MPs are not bound to a position
- The federal Liberal Party wants constitutional recognition without a constitutionally-enshrined Voice
- The federal government has rejected calls to delay the vote despite poor polling
Mark Speakman said he would personally support a Voice in the Australian Constitution but the NSW opposition has agreed not to bind MPs to a position.
“It is a proposal for a purely advisory body on behalf of Indigenous Australians, who are far and away the most disadvantaged people in our nation,” he said.
“On balance, I think the potential rewards outweigh the potential risks, and I personally support a Voice in the Australian constitution.”
Mr Speakman’s position is at odds with the federal Coalition, which has been campaigning for months against the Voice.
The Liberal Party wants constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians without a constitutionally enshrined Voice.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected calls to delay, defer or cancel the referendum, despite recent polls suggesting support for a Yes vote is trending down.
At last week’s Garma Festival, the prime minister pledged the vote would be held this year, although a date has not yet been set.
Mr Speakman said he would not play an active role in the referendum or advise people how to vote, but he urged the federal government to make some changes to win support for “at least some constitutional reform”, he said.
“Recent polling suggests that the referendum is unlikely to succeed and that even if it does, it will only do so by a narrow majority,” he said.
“Neither outcome helps our nation’s ongoing journey of reconciliation.”
Mr Speakman suggested the government make changes to its current proposal:
- To amend the constitutional alteration to put two separate questions, the first on the matter of constitutional recognition and the second on the establishment of the Voice.
- To release draft legislation on the Voice, including detailing its proposed composition, functions, structure, powers and procedure.
The opposition leader said that working in closer partnership with Indigenous Australians by embedding changes in the constitution offered a better chance of closing the gap.
“We live in a great country, but our poor, and often disastrous, outcomes for Indigenous Australians are our nation’s greatest public policy failure,” he said.
“They face huge gaps in, among other things, life expectancy, health, education, jobs, housing, child protection, criminal victimisation, and incarceration.”