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

by leave—I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

It's disappointing that the opposition has refused to support this bill, a bill that it claims to largely support. In fact, now that the government has agreed, in a show of good faith, to reinstating the 'yes-no' pamphlet, the opposition no longer appears to object to any provision in the bill; the opposition has not moved a single amendment. That is a position that the Liberal Party can continue to prosecute without opposing this bill.

Later this year, there will be a referendum to amend the Constitution. The Constitution is the rulebook that governs our nation, yet, for 122 years, our Constitution has failed to recognise the country's first peoples and their more than 60,000 years of continuous connection to this land. The Constitution is the people's document. Politicians can't change it. Only the Australian people can change the Constitution, and I have faith in the Australian people to get this right. Australians understand that constitutional recognition will move Australia forward for everyone. So I say to the Liberal Party, there is still time to support constitutional recognition. There is still time to support the Voice. I urge members of the opposition to keep an open mind and an open heart when it comes to this referendum.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a third time.