According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the solicitor general’s recommendation to the parliament about the Indigenous Voice demonstrates “unequivocal” support.
Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition, has demanded that the whole report from the country’s second law officer be made available to the public.
Speaking today in Sydney, Albanese claimed that no government had ever given that advice to the cabinet.
However, he spelled out some of the solicitor general’s conclusions regarding the Voice plan.
“He said that the proposed amendment not only complements but also strengthens the representative and responsible government system established by the Constitution,” Albanese recalled.
He continues by saying that the Voice will serve as an advisory body to the executive and legislative parts of government rather than being a constituent of either.
Albanese claimed that Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue KC discovered that the Voice as designed would not have any veto power and would not bind parliament in any way. Donaghue’s role includes serving as legal counsel to the Commonwealth.
This, according to the prime minister, “put to bed” any opposing accusations.
It just requires that Indigenous Australians be acknowledged in our Constitution and given the opportunity to voice their opinions on issues that concern them, he added.
“In order to close the gap on education, health, housing, incarceration rates, life expectancy, and on all the other issues in which there is a gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”
