NSW Premier Chris Minns says he remained committed to a treaty process despite Saturday’s referendum,but admits he has no timeline for when it will begin.Credit:Cole Bennetts
Minns campaigned with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney during the build-up to Saturday’s referendum,and in his first comments since the vote he said he was “really upset” by the result.
But,the premier said,he “respects the judgment of the people of NSW”,and while he stressed he did not want to dictate the way forward to Indigenous leaders,indicated the idea of a state-based Voice,something he has been open to,could now be unlikely.
“There’s no easy answer because we have to make progress,but obviously the majority of Australians did not support that change,” he said.
“I don’t want to front run those discussions,but there are many different models that can show progress,whether it’s a legislative Voice,whether it’s a constitutional change.”
Premier Chris Minns voting with federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney on Saturday. Burney’s seat of Barton – which overlaps Minns’ state seat of Kogarah – rejected the proposal.Credit:Jenny Evans
Focus has turned to state-based treaty processes following the referendum defeat,with South Australia insisting it remained committed to its own Voice to parliament. Victoria is also advanced in its own treaty negotiations.
In NSW,Labor promised to spend $5 million on a year-long consultation on a treaty process in the lead up to the March election.