Peter Dutton calls on Anthony Albanese to CALL OFF the the Voice to Parliament referendum: ‘The Voice is going down’
Peter Dutton has sensationally called on the Prime Minister to call off the Voice to Parliament referendum.
The Constitutional Alteration Bill passed this week, paving the way for a referendum to determine whether the Voice should be enshrined in our constitution.
But the Opposition Leader warned Anthony Albanese the ‘Voice is going down’, suggesting he cut his losses and no longer put the question to the Australian public.
Speaking to 2GB, Mr Dutton said: ‘Frankly I think the Prime Minister’s at a point where if he realises the Voice is going down.
‘That’s what all of the polling is indicating at the moment.’
Peter Dutton has sensationally called on the Prime Minister to call off the Voice to Parliament referendum
Mr Dutton said the PM should make a call ‘in the country’s best interest’ to avoid ‘dividing the country down the middle’.
He said Mr Albanese could instead focus on other ways to ‘provide practical support and consideration to Indigenous Australians’.
Mr Albanese has assured the public his vision is a ‘modest’ request which will have little impact on the lives of most Australians, but would be fundamental in bringing hope to First Nations people.
The prime minister said Australians will be afforded a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to improve the lives of First Nations people at the referendum, to be held between October and December.
‘Where’s the downside here?’ he asked. ‘What are people risking here? From my perspective this is all upside.’
Mr Albanese has assured the public his vision is a ‘modest’ request which will have little impact on the lives of most Australians, but would be fundamental in bringing hope to First Nations people
After years of doing things ‘for’ Aboriginal people, often with the best of intentions, the PM said a Voice to Parliament would allow Indigenous people to take the front seat on matters crucial to them.
The Coalition has repeatedly called on the government to define what exactly that means.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus tried to clear up that confusion during a press conference on the day the bill passed through the Senate.
He listed five key issues which will become the core focus of the advisory group: health, employment, education, housing and justice.
‘No harm can come from this referendum, only good,’ he said. ‘The parliament has done its job and now it’s up to the Australian people.’
Mr Dutton said the PM should make a call ‘in the country’s best interest’ to avoid ‘dividing the country down the middle’
