Advocates for a republic have expressed hope Labor would commit to a republic referendum in the next term of parliament if it wins the next election,but Albanese has made no promise on the timing or the wording of such a plan.
Asked if a defeat for the Voice would make a referendum on the republic impossible,he said that he was a republican but that timetables for that change were “not on my agenda” because the Voice was the priority.
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“I’m just focused on one referendum and one referendum only,which is the Voice,” he said. “I think it is really important that this gets done. I can’t imagine having a referendum on the republic,on who our head of state would be,when our constitution doesn’t acknowledge the great privilege that we have of living with the oldest continuous culture on Earth.
“My sole constitutional change that I’m giving any thought to is,I believe,the most important one by a long way.”
Australians backed the idea of an Indigenous Voiceby a majority of 64 per cent in the Resolve Political Monitor in this masthead in September when they were asked about the draft wording Albanese proposed at the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory at the end of July.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton hassharpened his criticism of the Voice recently after a key Indigenous member of the Coalition party room,Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price,gained the backing of the Nationals party room in rejecting the idea.
“Media outlets have decided that you’ll be on the wrong side of history if you don’t support the Voice or somehow you’re racist if you’re questioning what the Voice is about,” Dutton said on December 8.
“It’s so juvenile in approach,it’s embarrassing,and frankly,that’s the way the prime minister’s conducted himself in this debate as well.”
While some members of the Nationals have suggested their position could be reconsidered if new details emerge,conservative Liberals are against the Voice and want Dutton to campaign for the “no” case,turning the referendum into a partisan issue and making it harder to succeed.
Speaking to this masthead at Kirribilli House,Albanese urged Australians to back the Voice to show respect for First Australians and increase self-respect for Australia.
He also warned of the damage to Australia’s standing with other countries if it turned its back on Indigenous people with a “no”.
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“The referendum on Indigenous recognition is an enormous opportunity to bring the country together to advance reconciliation,and to treat Indigenous people with respect,but also so that Australians can feel more respect about ourselves as well,” he said.
“There’s a third element to it as well,which is the way that the world sees us will be impacted by the outcome of that referendum.”
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletterhere.