Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This was and is how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want to be recognised in our Constitution. After years of failed programs and failed policies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people told us that they were not seeking a purely symbolic form of recognition. They told us symbolic language would not do anything to improve unacceptable outcomes for Indigenous Australians. They told us that more of the same is not good enough. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people called for a practical form of constitutional recognition, one that will improve the way that we develop laws and policies relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that we get better results in areas like health, education and housing. That's what the Voice is about: listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so we get better outcomes.

We cannot risk more of the same. But, as the Leader of the Opposition demonstrates every time he talks about the upcoming referendum, more of the same is all that the 'no' campaign has to offer. The 'no' campaign is offering no solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Voting yes can do only good. Voting yes at this referendum means voting yes for a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for all Australians.

See this speech in context