Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

It is, I think, a great sadness to many people to see the alternative government denigrating the statement that has been given by First Nations peoples to the people of Australia. But, Senator Hanson, this is the Uluru statement, and it does fit on an A4 page. I disagree with your position on this, and I appreciate that we have a different view, but I think we should at least ensure that we are clear about why we have a different view. With respect, you and others don't have a different view because of the length of the statement; you have a different view because, fundamentally, you don't think that we should have a voice. We disagree. In fact, I think many of those opposite disagree. There are those opposite who do support a voice and there are those opposite, including in this chamber, who support a legislated voice and have done so publicly. I acknowledge that. There appear to be those on your side who don't even support that.

So the difference between those in this chamber is that there are some that don't support any voice. As I said, Senator Hanson, I disagree with you, but that's your right. There are some who support a legislated voice but are going all out to stop a constitutional voice. That's what they're doing. There are those of us who think that, given all that's happened in this country and the extent of Indigenous disadvantage, we should ensure that our First Nations peoples are recognised in our Constitution and are able to have a constitutional right to a voice to give advice. That's all. The Voice does not call for a determination of policy. (Time expired)