Indigenous voice to parliament referendum question and constitution changes revealed by emotional PM | Indigenous voice to parliament

Australians will be asked to recognise the First Peoples of the nation in a referendum later this year, after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, unveiled the final wording of the conditional amendment and question.

The proposed amendment, to be contained in a new chapter in the constitution, would establish a body known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The advisory body would be able to make representations to the parliament and executive government. After two days of negotiations in Canberra, Albanese and the government accepted the strong advice of its internal working group of Indigenous leaders to retain the voice’s power to advise executive government, including the cabinet and the public service, despite concerns raised by a small number of conservative critics.

In a press conference in Canberra, Albanese said there was no circumstance in which the government would back down on its plan to hold a referendum in the final three months of the year. Standing alongside ministers Linda Burney and Mark Dreyfus, as well as other Indigenous Labor MPs including Pat Dodson and Malarndirri McCarthy, Albanese became emotional at several points, choking back tears.

Several other members of the group, including Indigenous leaders Marcia Langton, Megan Davis, Ken Wyatt and Pat Anderson, also appeared visibly emotional and wiped tears.

The legislation will be introduced to parliament next Thursday and be sent to a parliamentary committee for inquiry.

“You only win when you run on the field and engage … we’re all in,” Albanese said.

The question

A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

The proposed alteration

Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

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 the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth 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 matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.