The"co-design"process recommended by Parliament's constitutional recognition committee would involve Indigenous people and consider national,regional and local elements of a Voice. The committee recommended the design work be finished in the next term of Parliament and then progress through the legislative and constitutional process in a"deliberate and timely manner".
While strong advocates of the Voice may welcome the Coalition MPs'endorsement of it,they will likely criticise the declaration that the proposal needs further work before going to a referendum. The backers say the constitutional change can be done first,followed by the practical and legal development of how it would function.
Labor senator Patrick Dodson,co-chair of the committee,said a Voice would be the party's first constitutional priority if elected,even as it pushes for a separate referendum on an Australian republic.
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Tabling the committee's final report in Parliament on Thursday,he said it was a significant step towards the Parliament achieving bipartisan progress on constitutional recognition.
"There has been some quite intense discussion on what should come first:a referendum,legislation or co-design. In some ways this is a matter of political judgement,working through to achieve a successful outcome for First Nations peoples and the Australian community,"he said.
Greens senator Rachel Siewert issued a minority report,dissenting against the recommendation that the policy design work come before the referendum. Liberal senator Amanda Stoker also dissented,backing a focus on regional representative bodies rather than a national entity or constitutional change.