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

I thank Senator Stewart for that question. I thank her for her work and her advocacy. And we were all very proud to be there with Senator Stewart, Senator McCarthy and so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. It was a very uplifting moment. As the senator says, the Prime Minister announced that on 14 October all Australians will have the opportunity to come together and vote for constitutional recognition through a Voice, and this is an issue that should be above politics—an opportunity to come together to bring about a better future for our country.

I want to acknowledge my predecessor, Julie Bishop, who joined me in Perth last week to talk with people about the Voice. I'll quote what she said:

… for 20 years, I've seen us try all sorts of things, telling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, 'this will work' and it doesn't. So, I think it makes sense to say to the people whose lives have been impacted, what are the problems and how do we fix them?

Later in the week I was joined in Adelaide by Natasha Stott Despoja, Kate Carnell and Sean Gordon from the Liberals for Yes campaign in campaigning for the yes vote. In Melbourne, Mr Shorten was joined by Mr Bandt, and in Sydney, Ms Plibersek was joined by Mr Turnbull, and they campaigned together, because for some people this is above politics, and these community leaders all recognise that this is an opportunity to bring Australians from all walks of life together. And Australians are coming together across the country in sporting clubs and community groups.

One Australian I would particularly acknowledge is John Farnham AO, who for the first time has given the rights to 'You're the Voice', one of our unofficial anthems, to the yes campaign. The words of this song are about coming together, listening to each other and choosing a better future. (Time expired)