Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

As I understand, what has been put to us by the representatives of First Nations peoples, as outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, is that they are seeking that we respond first to the voice before moving to treaty and truth. I would make the point that the enshrinement of a voice is symbolic, but it is also pragmatic. It's symbolic because it will include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the founding document of our country. It is pragmatic given that there is no systematic process for First Nations peoples to provide advice to the parliament. (Time expired)