House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Constitution: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
Paul Fletcher Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
3:01 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Next week marks the one-year anniversary of the failed Voice referendum, where over 60 per cent of Australians rejected the Prime Minister's $450 million effort to divide our country during a cost-of-living crisis. Is the Prime Minister still committed to makarrata?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
3:02 pm
I thank the member for his question. Of course, he would remember the Voice referendum because he held two forums in his electorate. He held a forum for 'yes' people and a forum for 'no' people. He did both during that referendum. I note that it wasn't 'yes' and 'no' together—an engagement—it was two separate voices and two separate messages to two separate constituencies. He's worried about what's going on up there in that corner, and he should be.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Can you just give a straight answer?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
I'll take the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition, where he speaks about straight answers. He promised during the referendum campaign to have another referendum. That is what he promised to do. He said, 'If you vote no you will get another referendum and an opportunity to vote for recognition in Australia's Constitution.' The question for him and the question for the member for Bradfield is: is that still their position?