Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week was a momentous occasion across Australia when we saw the Prime Minister announce the date for the referendum. This referendum to recognise Australia's First Nations people in our Constitution through a Voice is something that we should all get behind. For years and years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been calling for exactly this—a voice, a recognition in our Constitution for their 65,000 years of culture and tradition, their love of the land and their care of our country. Yet what we are seeing quite significantly is misinformation being touted around the country to coerce people to say no.

If people want to say no on the basis of the actual facts that's one thing, but to be pushed to it by misinformation is unconscionable, and people should feel deeply ashamed of that. And it's not just that. We then see the member for Dickson and Leader of the Opposition saying he wants to hold another referendum to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution—recognise them but not listen to them. If you say no to the idea of a referendum that has recognition in the Constitution and a Voice and then elect him as the Prime Minister, he'll hold another referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution and give them no voice. It is a joke, a complete joke.