Deputy Speaker,

I rise to speak on the Voice and the referendum ahead of us.

The Government introduced the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 in December last year and it has passed.

This Bill is a key milestone on the way to holding a referendum on a Voice to parliament this year, as was the confirmation of the form of words that will be taken to the people of Australia.

As we approach the referendum, it is important that we all listen to each other and open our ears and hearts in a same spirit of mutual respect.

Referendums are binary by nature.

There will at least be two sides to the national conversation.

And each side will make its arguments robustly, which will be difficult for many people to hear.

But if people can learn from this, more about why others think as they do, if they can disagree constructively, then Australian democracy will be the stronger for it.

If we rise to the challenge, I believe that this vote on the Voice to Parliament can be one of the most successful and memorable referendums in our history.

A real moment of national unity.

Constitutional recognition through a Voice is about two things: recognition and consultation.

Recognition of the 65,000 years of shared history and continuous connection to this land by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

And consultation through a Voice by listening to communities to deliver better policies and better outcomes.

The Voice will be an advisory body, made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who will give advice to government on issues that affect their communities.

It’s that simple.

The Voice will help close the gap by giving communities a say in matters affecting them so better policies can be made.

And it will help deliver practical change on the ground in areas like health, education, housing, welfare reform.

We know that you get better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities when you listen to the people on the ground, and when they have a say on the policies that affect them.

The Voice was the first request of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the culmination of the most extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on constitutional recognition in Australian history.

This is the best chance we have to address the injustices of the past and create change that will deliver a better future.

We believe Australians are ready to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the Constitution.

This is an opportunity to make Australia better for all of us.

The referendum can be a unifying moment for our country.

It’s about walking the long road of reconciliation as I walked with former Essendon footballer Michael Long from Melbourne to Canberra         for Indigenous rights in 2004.

And it’s about taking the highroad as a nation.

We should be engaged in a “race to the top”.

I hope we can.

Old Men on the walk. Gunditjmara man.

Southern Coast of Victoria.

Walking and talking with him allowed me to see another perspective.

It will enrich the lives of all Australians.

Connecting us all to a cultural heritage of tens of thousands of years.

In our Constitution.

Thanks Deputy Speaker.