Referendum / announcement

**NOT SUBBED / WRITTEN ** Depends on publish date. Will have to leave this last to write

NOT WRITTEN NOT SUBBED Depends on publish date. Will have to leave this last to write

The Prime Minister has revealed the question he intends to put to the Australian public for a referendum to create an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

The question is: “_Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?” _ If the referendum is successful, the government is proposing adding the following three sentences to the constitution:

1. _There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. _
2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
3. _The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. _ The Prime Minister says he is open to further discussions on the wording but wants the both the question and the proposed changes to the constitution to be clear and simple. “We can use this question - and the provisions - as the basis for further consultation. “Not as a final decision but as the basis for dialogue, something to give the conversation shape and direction.” Mr Albanese said.