Thursday, 3 August 2023

Voice to Parliament

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (09:54): The upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum is possibly the most consequential democratic decision many Victorians will face in their lifetimes. It seeks to put race at the centre of how we govern, and for that reason I will be voting no and advocate that all Victorians do the same. But I hope it does not come to a vote. I am calling for this referendum to sensibly be abandoned. It was rejected in 2017 because the then government had the view that it did not have any realistic prospect of achieving a majority of states and a majority nationally, and if we look at the polls, that seems to be the reality. This is because Australians cherish the value of egalitarianism – everyone being equal under the law. It is what makes Australia great. Australia is built on a foundation of everyone having equal civic rights. It is something I talk about at every citizenship ceremony I am fortunate to attend.

Many advocates refute arguments of detail, saying the Parliament will decide. But if you look at the reality in the Senate, that means the Greens and David Pocock will decide a permanent change to our constitution. Only eight of 44 proposals for constitutional change been approved, all carrying bipartisan support. It is time for the Prime Minister to do what he did with the local government referendum back in 2013: realise it does not have support and pull it. We can achieve constitutional change through a preamble to our constitution to recognise our first Australians and have an important moment of unity everyone can be proud of.