Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

We have gone over this. If there's one thing that we've learned from tonight, it's some of the new scare campaigns that are going to be used by the coalition against the Voice. The idea that the Voice could be one person—whether it be Noel Pearson, Megan Davis, Murray Watt, Malarndirri McCarthy, Michaelia Cash or any one person—is preposterous, and Senator Cash knows that. Certainly it's the position of this government that we've made our position on these matters very clear through the design principles that we've published.

We're now getting into what a representation is because we know that the scare campaign really is that it's not just about providing advice or representations but that it will have decision-making powers. So let's deal with this scare campaign. The constitutional amendment provides that the Voice can make representations to the parliament and the executive government about matters that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A representation is an official statement from the Voice to the parliament or the executive government. It is advisory in nature. The Voice will be able to provide representations to the parliament and the executive government about matters such as the operation and effect of existing laws, policies, programs, and decisions and proposed reforms to those things to ensure they better meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. That's what representations are.