Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

We live in a nation that is older than any other. We live in a nation where we should be proud of the human history of this country. I make this point very clearly: the Voice will be about things that affect First Nations people, health, education, jobs and housing. And I also make this point, which seems to be miraculously forgotten by those that advocate no: the third part of the proposed constitutional amendment is extremely clear about our collective role in this place in relation to the referendum. It says:

The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including—

And I say this very clearly, to those of you taking notice—

… its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

How that is forgotten is beyond me. All you have to do is read the question and then read the three parts to the amendment, and you will realise what our responsibilities are.

See this speech in context