Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) | Hansard source

I'm speaking about what this referendum is about. It strikes me that the opponents of the referendum—those who are advocating a 'no' vote—want to talk about everything but what the question is about: recognition and listening in order to get better results. That is what it is about. But the deputy leader went on to say this about the Voice, because she was asked:

The voice is important in the way that it may close the gap and the way it may improve the lives of Indigenous people.

Well, we agree with that, too. So, then you wonder why it is that they're not supporting it. And they come up with the idea that it's legislation, and they say this: 'All legislation requires exposure drafts.' That's what she said, and 'It requires conversations, it requires debate; I mean, it will include all the things that actually produce good legislation at the end of the process, and that's what I want to see.'

Well, a yes result in the referendum will see the Voice being legislated before this parliament as a result of that good process. That's the whole point here. Those opposite are so desperate to make a political point at the expense of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that they want to talk about everything but what is in the referendum in the last quarter of this year. (Time expired)

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