Key points
- Voice to Parliament opponents have called for constitutional recognition of migrants to Australia.
- He said while Indigenous people should be recognised in the constitution, other groups should have the same opportunity.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the referendum on enshrining the Voice to Parliament in the constitution would take place this year.
The head of Australia’s peak body representing people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds has called the push for constitutional recognition of migrants by those against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament "offensive" and "divisive".
As the group leading the "no" vote unveiled its campaign against enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Recognise A Better Way, organiser Warren Mundine said the group would advocate for broader recognition in the constitution for Indigenous people.
Mr Mundine, a former Labor Party national president and Liberal candidate, said while Indigenous people should be recognised in the constitution, other groups of people should have the same opportunity.
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) chief executive Mohammad Al-Khafaji said the push for recognition of migrants in the constitution in the context of the upcoming referendum was "divisive" and "offensive".
“We never asked for migrants to be recognised in the constitution,” Mr Al-Khafaji wrote on Twitter on Monday.
“Trying to wedge migrant communities on the referendum by using that as an argument not only won't work, but it's offensive to our community's intelligence.
"This is not being done in good faith and it's divisive.”
Mr Al-Khafaji said recognition of First Nations people in the constitution through a Voice to Parliament and that of migrants' contribution to Australia are "different issues".
"Migrant and refugee communities are natural allies with First Nations communities," he said, adding there was "resounding support" for the and the Voice to Parliament at the council’s national conference last year.
Mr Mundine told ABC radio on Monday there was a "great opportunity to also recognise other groups of people who have come to this country and really helped us economically, have really helped us with our food."
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia CEO Mohammad Al-Khafaji called the move by those behind the 'no' campaign in the upcoming referendum 'divisive' and 'offensive.' Source: AAP / MATT TURNER
"We're looking at all the problems we're having at the moment that can be sorted out from legislation and ministers getting out there and doing their job, without the need to be spending millions," he said.
"If the Voice gets up, then I'll be working with it to make it successful because we can't afford to not make it successful — but at the same time, I don't believe it needs to be there."
'Australians tired of symbolism'
Uluru Statement signatory Thomas Mayor said the Voice to Parliament was recognised as the best way forward, following the work to draft the statement in 2017.
"What Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have clearly said in the statement is that we see constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament," he said.
"For the people to be recognised, it's important to listen to us about how we seek to be recognised."
Mr Mayor said enshrining the Voice would be tangible action that would improve Indigenous lives.
"Australians are tired of symbolism, just as Indigenous people are tired of symbolism — we want something very practical," he said.
"In a democracy, a Voice is a very practical thing, influence over the making of those policies and laws is a very practical thing."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the referendum on enshrining the Voice to Parliament in the constitution would take place this year.
Addressing the media on Monday, Mr Albanese said the decision was about "how Australians see ourselves".
"[It's about] whether we have the confidence to acknowledge the fullness of our history. But it's also about how the world sees Australia as well. Whether we're a mature nation that's able to reconcile and move forward."
Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan accused the government of not working with the coalition more closely on the proposal.
"If Anthony Albanese wants to do the right thing, he should sit down with [Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton ... and address all the questions that were asked, that would be a great start," he told Sky News.
"We are where we're at because of that failure of bipartisanship."
The Liberals have yet to determine their formal party position on the Voice, but the Nationals last year already indicated they would oppose the change.
The Greens are due to hold a party room meeting later this week where the party's formal stance on the Voice will be debated.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she supported the Voice but also wanted to see all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart implemented in full.
"I want to make sure we can bring as many supporters together as possible to ensure that we get that progress," she told ABC radio.
"If we didn't get progress on all three (elements of the statement), it would be devastating. We need to make sure we have First Nations justice."
