Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023

Current status

This bill is currently before Parliament.

Policy area

Culture, sport & community

What does this bill do?

Australia’s Constitution would recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia through this new national body.

Why was it introduced?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had no guaranteed national body to advise Parliament and government after earlier representative bodies were reformed, defunded or abolished. This bill puts a permanent Voice in the Constitution, recognises them as First Peoples, and lets Parliament set the body’s details in later laws.

Broader context

After earlier national Indigenous representative bodies could be changed, defunded or abolished, the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017 turned long-running calls for recognition into a specific push for a constitutionally protected Voice to advise the federal Parliament and government. After the Albanese government was elected in May 2022 promising a referendum, it introduced this bill in March 2023 and secured its passage through both houses in June 2023 to put that constitutional change to voters.

Key criticism

The main case against the bill was that putting the Voice in the Constitution could create legal uncertainty, extra bureaucracy and race-based division without delivering practical improvements for Indigenous communities. Those arguments were raised most clearly by Coalition and Nationals opponents, with some criticism focused more narrowly on the drafting and on whether the Voice should be created by legislation instead.

Who supported it?

Mark Dreyfus MP introduced this bill. Support so far has come from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, some crossbench members; opposition has come from Nationals.

Introduced in House 30 Mar 2023

Passed House 31 May 2023 Aye 121 No 25

Passed Senate 19 June 2023 Aye 52 No 19

Not yet law —

Did it become law?

Not yet

Final passage

Recorded vote so far

4 counted final-passage votes were recorded.

Days since introduction

1168 days

Updated 10 June 2026.

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

Australia’s Constitution would recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia through this new national body.
Australia would get a constitutionally established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, giving the body a permanent place in the Constitution.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice could give advice to federal parliament and the federal government on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Federal parliament would decide the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice’s membership, role, powers and rules through later laws.

Show source excerpts

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
final Act text
(i) there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
final Act text
(ii) 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;
final Act text
(iii) 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.
final Act text

Context

Broader context for this bill

26 May 2017

Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for a Voice

The statement transformed constitutional recognition into a concrete proposal for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
Hansard ↗
21 May 2022

Albanese government is elected with a referendum commitment

The new government treated an Indigenous Voice referendum as an election commitment and moved to turn that promise into legislation.
Hansard ↗
30 Mar 2023

Government introduces the constitutional alteration bill

Introducing the bill was the first formal parliamentary step to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia and create a constitutional Voice.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
31 May 2023

House passes the bill

The House agreed to the bill after debate and detailed consideration, sending the proposed constitutional change to the Senate.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
19 June 2023

Parliament passes the bill

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing the parliamentary approval needed before the proposed constitutional change could go to a referendum.
Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

Introduced 30 Mar 2023

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 30 Mar 2023

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum; Committee report (12/05/2023) review 30 Mar 2023

Referred to Committee (30/03/2023): Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum; Committee report (12/05/2023)

Referred to committee

APH bill page notes

Second reading debate 22 May 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 23 May 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 24 May 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 25 May 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 30 May 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

House second reading agreed Aye 120 No 25 31 May 2023

Recorded vote: 120 to 25.

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Consideration in detail 31 May 2023

The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.

Consideration in detail debate

House third reading agreed Aye 121 No 25 31 May 2023

Recorded vote: 121 to 25.

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Introduced 13 June 2023

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 13 June 2023

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Second reading debate 13 June 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 14 June 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 15 June 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 16 June 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Senate second reading agreed Aye 42 No 13 16 June 2023

Recorded vote: 42 to 13.

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Committee of the Whole debate 16 June 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Third reading agreed 19 June 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading moved

Third reading agreed 19 June 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading debated

Senate third reading agreed Aye 52 No 19 19 June 2023

Recorded vote: 52 to 19.

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Passed both houses 19 June 2023

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.

Finally passed both Houses

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

Criticism was substantial but centred on legal design, bureaucracy and division rather than opposition to recognition itself.

Legal uncertainty and unclear powers

Critics argued the constitutional wording was too open-ended and could create unintended legal consequences, especially around what governments may have to do after receiving representations from the Voice.

Raised by Coalition MPs including Andrew Wallace and Keith Wolahan Source ↗

More bureaucracy, less practical help

Opponents said a constitutionally entrenched advisory body would add another layer of Canberra administration and consultation instead of focusing on frontline, place-based measures that directly improve living conditions.

Raised by David Littleproud, Andrew Wallace and other opponents of the bill Source ↗

Division by race

Some opponents warned that creating a special constitutional body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would divide Australians along racial lines rather than unify the country around equal citizenship.

Raised by Nationals and Coalition opponents including David Littleproud and Andrew Wallace Source ↗

Should be done by legislation, not entrenched in the Constitution

A narrower criticism was that even if advisory input from First Nations people was desirable, it should be created by ordinary legislation so parliament could adjust it later without constitutional litigation or administrative burdens.

Raised by Keith Wolahan and others with conditional or drafting-focused reservations Source ↗

Further sources

parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

How the bill itself passed

The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.

Carried

Senate passed the bill

Aye 41 No 12

Passed 41 to 12. Support came from Greens, Labor, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Nationals. 6 cross-floor votes were recorded. Liberal Party had split recorded votes.

16 June 2023

Greens 10 / 0

Liberal Party 13 / 8

Labor 17 / 0

Independent 1 / 0

Nationals 0 / 4

Carried

Senate passed the bill

Aye 52 No 19

Passed 52 to 19. Support came from Greens, Labor, and Jacqui Lambie Network. Opposition came from UAP, Nationals, and One Nation. 7 cross-floor votes were recorded. Liberal Party had split recorded votes. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

19 June 2023

Greens 12 / 0

Liberal Party 12 / 9

Labor 25 / 0

Jacqui Lambie Network 2 / 0

Independent 1 / 1

UAP 0 / 1

Nationals 0 / 6

One Nation 0 / 2

Carried

House passed the bill

Aye 121 No 25

Passed 121 to 25. Support came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Nationals. 8 cross-floor votes were recorded. Liberal Party had split recorded votes.

31 May 2023

Labor 76 / 0

Liberal Party 29 / 10

Greens 4 / 0

Independent 11 / 0

Centre Alliance 1 / 0

Nationals 0 / 15

Carried

House passed the bill

Aye 121 No 25

31 May 2023

Labor 76 / 0

Liberal Party 29 / 10

Greens 4 / 0

Independent 11 / 0

Centre Alliance 1 / 0

Nationals 0 / 15

Earlier bill-stage votes

Carried

Senate cleared second reading

Aye 42 No 13

Passed 42 to 13. Support came from Greens, Labor, and Jacqui Lambie Network. Opposition came from Nationals. 6 cross-floor votes were recorded. Liberal Party had split recorded votes. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

16 June 2023

Greens 10 / 0

Liberal Party 12 / 8

Labor 18 / 0

Independent 1 / 1

Jacqui Lambie Network 1 / 0

Nationals 0 / 4

Carried

House cleared second reading

Aye 120 No 25

Passed 120 to 25. Support came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Nationals. 8 cross-floor votes were recorded. Liberal Party had split recorded votes.

31 May 2023

Labor 76 / 0

Liberal Party 29 / 10

Greens 4 / 0

Independent 10 / 0

Centre Alliance 1 / 0

Nationals 0 / 15

Amendments at a glance

Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.

Senate

Defeated

Remove recognition and executive representations

This bill-text change would omit the recognition wording and delete the paragraph about representations to the executive government.

Defeated on voices

The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.

Hansard record ↗

Defeated

State sovereignty is not ceded

This bill-text change would add a clause stating that nothing in the Act cedes or disturbs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereignty.

Defeated on voices

The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.

Hansard record ↗

Defeated

Remove recognition and executive representations

This bill-text change would omit the recognition wording and delete the paragraph about representations to the executive government.

Defeated on voices

The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.

Hansard record ↗

These are votes on the bill itself rather than amendment votes.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Mark Dreyfus

Australian Labor Party • MP 30 Mar 2023

Dreyfus supports the bill and presents it as the first formal step toward constitutional recognition through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Read in Hansard ↗

Alex Hawke

Liberal Party • MP 30 May 2023

Alex Hawke opposes the bill and says he will campaign for the no case because he believes the Voice would entrench race-based rights in the Constitution instead of protecting equal rights for all Australians.

Read in Hansard ↗

Julian Leeser

Liberal Party • MP 24 May 2023

Leeser strongly supports the bill and says he will campaign for it and vote yes because he believes the Voice is a practical way to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and deliver long-delayed constitutional recognition.

Read in Hansard ↗

Kate Chaney

Independent • MP 22 May 2023

Chaney strongly supports the bill, saying the Constitution should be changed to recognise First Nations people and establish a Voice so governments can listen better and make more effective policy.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Anthony Albanese Albanese strongly supports the bill, saying it gives Australians the chance to establish the Voice and fulfil the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“Through this legislation and this referendum, our government is giving the people of Australia the opportunity to take up that invitation, to grasp that hand. If not now, when?”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Murray Watt 2 contributions Watt strongly supports the bill and says it is the first formal step to honour the commitment to enshrine a Voice in the Constitution.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Murray Watt on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • Senator • 13 June 2023

Watt strongly supports the bill and says it is the first formal step to honour the commitment to enshrine a Voice in the Constitution. He argues it is a practical, modest reform that will improve laws and policies by making Parliament and the executive listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“This bill responds to the call for a Voice for First Nations peoples enshrined in the Constitution. The government is also working towards a makarrata commission to respond to the calls for agreement making and truth telling. This work will continue beyond the referendum. This bill is about recognising and listening. It recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of this land. It is about creating a Voice, and it is up to the parliament and the executive government to listen. This is an important reform, but it is modest. It complements the existing structures of Australia's democratic system and enhances the normal functioning of government and the law. It creates an independent institution that speaks to the parliament and the executive government but does not replace, direct or impede the actions of either. Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our founding legal document and listening to their views on laws and policies that matter to them will make a difference.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗

Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023

Watt strongly supports the bill, saying it is the critical step needed to put the Voice into the Constitution and deliver practical improvements in health, education, housing and justice. He rejects the main objections raised in debate, arguing the proposal is legally sound, preserves parliamentary power, and does not give special rights or threaten equality.

“The Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 is a critical step in fulfilling the first request made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. If approved at the referendum, there will be four simple lines inserted into the Constitution. Those lines will finally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's First Peoples in our founding legal document after more than 120 years of exclusion and omission. Those lines will enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in the Constitution. The Voice is the formal constitutional recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates called for in the Uluru statement. Through the Voice, we will listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to create practical change and make a difference where it matters—in areas like employment, health, education, housing and justice.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Mark Dreyfus ★ 2 contributions Dreyfus supports the bill and presents it as the first formal step toward constitutional recognition through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Mark Dreyfus on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 Mar 2023

Dreyfus supports the bill and presents it as the first formal step toward constitutional recognition through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. He argues it is a practical reform that will improve laws and policies by ensuring First Nations peoples are heard.

“On 21 May 2022, the Australian people elected the Albanese government—a government committed to holding a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution. With the introduction of this bill, the government is taking the first formal step to honour this commitment—a commitment we made not just to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but to all Australians.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗

Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023

Dreyfus strongly supports the bill and says it is the critical step needed to give constitutional recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice. He argues it reflects the Uluru Statement, is legally sound, and is better than merely symbolic recognition.

“This bill is a significant and critical step in fulfilling the first request made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. If approved at the referendum, four simple lines will be inserted into the Constitution. Those lines will finally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's First Peoples in our founding legal document after more than 120 years of exclusion and omission. Those lines will enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Graham Perrett Graham Perrett supports the bill and urges a yes vote, saying the Voice would recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and improve laws and policies by ensuring proper consultation.

“I want to make sure, when I wake up on the Sunday after that referendum, I'll have done my bit and voted yes. I want my son's first vote to have made a difference—the same one vote every eligible Australian will be able to make, whether you're the Prime Minister or a year 12 student who has just turned 18. Your vote will be the same. When you vote yes, not only will have you made a huge step in helping First Nations people and their communities towards a better life; you'll also be saving and changing lives. You will have made a positive change for our nation. This document, our Constitution, is a complicated document. It's taken a long time to get here. Let's make sure that the next time we take it to the Australian people to change this document, the document signed by Queen Victoria back in 1900, that it reflects a modern, inclusive Australia. Vote yes. I recommend the legislation to the chamber.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Deborah O'Neill O'Neill supports the bill and urges a yes vote, saying it is a chance to constitutionally recognise First Nations people and give them a Voice so they can be heard and empowered.

“I will be walking alongside First Nations people. I will vote yes, and I urge you to vote yes too.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Anne Stanley Stanley supports the bill and says the Voice to Parliament is the right way to ensure Indigenous voices are heard consistently and not silenced by changing governments.

“This Voice to Parliament is that future that has been long promised, a way to ensure that Indigenous voices are no longer silenced. They will be heard. They will be respected.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Tim Watts Watts supports the bill, linking the proposed Voice to William Cooper's 1937 petition and the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“It is time to say yes. I support this bill.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Glenn Sterle Sterle strongly supports the bill and says it is a necessary step to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution and create a Voice that can improve laws, policies and outcomes.

“Colleagues, it is long past time for us to correct our founding legal document, address the historical fiction of terra nullius and rightfully recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution. We can do this this year. We must, and I believe we will.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Rob Mitchell Mitchell supports the bill and says it is the right way to give First Nations people constitutional recognition and a Voice on issues affecting them.

“I rise to support this bill, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, as we as a nation push towards recognition of our First Nations people, the beginning of healing after generations of advocacy and hard work from our First Nations leaders.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Susan Templeman Templeman supports the bill and says it should pass without amendment so the referendum on the Voice can proceed.

“It made a single recommendation: that this bill be passed without amendment. And that is exactly what this parliament should do.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Justine Elliot Justine Elliot supports the bill and says it is the first formal step to hold the Voice referendum and honour Labor's commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“I encourage everyone to vote yes to make this happen, and I strongly commend this bill to the House.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Bill Shorten Bill Shorten supports the Voice referendum bill and argues it is needed to deliver constitutional recognition and practical empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people after generations of exclusion and failure.

“That is why we vote 'yes' at the referendum.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Tanya Plibersek Plibersek strongly supports the bill and says she will campaign for it to pass because it would recognise First Nations Australians, establish a Voice to parliament, and help improve laws and outcomes through better consultation.

“I rise tonight to support the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 and to say that I will campaign every day between now and referendum day for this referendum to pass, because I want our Constitution to recognise First Nations Australians and I want to see a voice to parliament.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Shayne Neumann Neumann strongly supports the bill and urges Australians to vote yes, arguing it is a modest but substantive constitutional change that recognises First Nations people and creates an advisory Voice with no veto over parliament or the executive.

“The constitutional opportunity we have cannot and must not be abandoned. We have a great opportunity in this country to do the right thing. I cannot conceive how we would feel as a country, how it would set back closing the gap, how it would set back the cause of reconciliation and unity as a people, if, on the Sunday after this vote, we're in a position where we have voted no as a country.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Marion Scrymgour Scrymgour supports the bill and says the Voice is a modest but important step to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and give them a permanent way to advise parliament and the executive.

“The Constitutional Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first people of Australia. The Indigenous losers from the colonial enterprise do not get any restoration or reparation from the Voice in relation to what they lost. They just get an opportunity to be heard. What a small price for Australia to pay for us to be recognised in our region, and in the community of nations generally, as a country which is coming to terms with its past.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Alicia Payne Payne says Labor will support the bill and campaign for the Voice referendum because it is a long-overdue step toward reconciliation, recognition and better consultation with First Nations Australians.

“I am proud that this government and this Prime Minister won't be swayed by the mistruths spoken by those opposite. We will walk hand in hand with First Nations Australians and grasp the chance of meaningful reconciliation offered by them. We will support the proposal that commands the support of over 80 per cent of Indigenous Australians. And we will campaign and we will win—not for us, but for every Australian in all corners of this wide brown land.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Tony Zappia Zappia समर्थन करता है the bill and argues it is needed to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and help repair past wrongs.

“That's why this legislation is so important. It addresses in some part and attempts to right, to the extent that it's possible, the wrongs of the past. Importantly and contrary to those who say this proposal to create a constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will be divisive, the proposal will, after around 240-odd years, serve to bring people together and, indeed, to rectify those past failings.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Helen Polley Polley strongly supports the bill and urges a yes vote, saying constitutional recognition through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice is long overdue and needed to improve outcomes for First Nations people.

“I'm proud to be standing here in this chamber tonight with my fellow senators, my fellow First Nations representatives in this great chamber, to be part of a Labor government that is introducing history-making legislation. I'm very proud to be part of that change. When we vote on this bill, it is only the beginning that is so long overdue, but much more still needs to be done after we pass this legislation. Change is never easy, but we must have this change. We can do better and we must do better to give Voice, Treaty and Truth. I urge everyone in this place and my fellow Australians, when you get the opportunity to vote yes to the referendum be part of changing Australia for the better. I commend the bill to the Senate.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Tim Ayres Tim Ayres supports the bill and wants it to pass, arguing that the Voice is the right reform for First Nations people and for Australia because it will strengthen the country and help it face its history honestly.

“I look forward very much to the passage of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 through the parliament.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Louise Miller-Frost Louise Miller-Frost strongly supports the bill and says Parliament should pass it without amendment.

“The Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum completed its inquiry on 12 May 2023. It made a single recommendation: that this bill be passed without amendment. That is exactly what this parliament should do. It's time. It's past time.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Luke Gosling Luke Gosling supports the bill to hold a referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, saying it is needed to improve outcomes, advance reconciliation, and let parliament listen properly to First Nations communities.

“The next milestone on that walk is clearly the Voice, and that's what this bill is all about. This bill is required to hold a referendum to amend the Australian Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution through a Voice, in order to get better outcomes, in order to progress reconciliation in our nation, and so that there is a process by which we here, lawmakers, can listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the practical changes that will have an impact in their communities to address intergenerational issues.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Kate Thwaites Kate Thwaites supports the bill and says it is a once-in-a-generation chance to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constitutional recognition and a permanent Voice to Parliament.

“I couldn't have said it better myself. I commend this bill to the House.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Sam Rae Sam Rae supports the bill and argues it is a long overdue chance to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution and create a Voice that will improve reconciliation and policy outcomes.

“I rise in support of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. Before us is an opportunity to put a question to the Australian people for the 41st time in our history, and for the first time in nearly 25 years. This bill asks a simple question, to right a wrong that has laid at the heart of our Constitution since Federation:”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Mike Freelander Freelander strongly supports the bill and says he will campaign for a Yes vote because he sees the Voice as a way to properly recognise First Nations people in the Constitution and improve decision-making by listening to Indigenous communities.

“I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved in bringing this legislation to the parliament. I'll be out there urging a 'yes' vote for this referendum. I hope I'm right. I thank the House for listening to my view.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Linda Burney Burney supports the constitutional alteration and urges every member to back it without amendment, saying the Voice is a practical and symbolic reform that will improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The government believes we have the right amendment to proceed; we have the right rigorous process that has listened to the whole range of views. I encourage every single member of this parliament to support the Constitution alteration without amendment.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Josh Burns Josh Burns strongly supports the bill and wants the referendum to pass, arguing that the Voice is a modest but profound act of recognition and consultation that repairs a long-standing constitutional omission.

“I say this to the Australian people: to give that gift will feel a whole lot better than to deny it. So I hope that this referendum and this bill get passed—that we say yes and we help build a better future together.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Matt Thistlethwaite Thistlethwaite strongly supports the bill and urges Parliament to pass it so a referendum can be held to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

“I am, of course, supporting the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. I'll be campaigning for the 'yes' case and encouraging members of the Kingsford Smith community to also support this important constitutional alteration to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Sue Lines Lines says she will support the bill and the Voice referendum because she wants constitutional recognition of First Nations people and a stronger say on matters that affect them.

“I want to make clear in my contribution, for the benefit of Australians watching, that this is not a political issue. In passing the constitutional alteration legislation, we are giving Australians the chance to change our Constitution, to stand on the shoulders of generations of change makers. That decision will sit with each and every Australian on the day that we go to vote on the referendum. I will be supporting the Voice because it's time to recognise 60,000 years of continuing culture and it's time to ensure that our First Nations people have a say in matters that affect them. I want to do justice to the voices of Narelle and her family, to Daniel and his family, and to my granddaughter, Charlee. I want them to have a future that is just as important and for them to be listened to in the same way that I am. The Voice, if successful, will allow us to continue our reconciliation journey as we face our past and look forward to a future. I hope that as a country we will vote 'yes' so that we can implement the generous invitation of the Uluru Statement of the Heart and move forward in a confident and unified way.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Carina Garland Garland supports the bill and says she will vote yes because constitutional recognition through a Voice is a moral and practical step toward listening to First Nations people, closing the gap, and advancing reconciliation.

“This is an incredibly important piece of legislation before us today. Let us embrace this moment with courage, with empathy and with a shared commitment to justice. As a nation, I hope we seize this chance to create a nation where every Australian, regardless of their background, has a true and equal voice in shaping our collective destiny and that we are able to continue the work of putting some of the wrongs to rest and create a more positive story for this nation. This is an important step towards a more just and harmonious Australia, and I'm very pleased to support this bill today.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Fatima Payman Payman supports the bill and urges the Senate to pass it, saying it is the first formal step to honour the Uluru Statement and that a constitutionally enshrined Voice will help close the gap and strengthen reconciliation.

“I commend the bill to the Senate.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Jana Stewart Stewart strongly supports the bill and urges Australians to back the referendum because she says a constitutionally enshrined Voice would recognise First Nations people and give them a real say on policies affecting their communities.

“I am proud to stand in this chamber today to speak in support of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 legislation.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 13 June 2023
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Libby Coker Coker supports the bill and urges a yes vote, saying it is a practical and enduring step toward constitutional recognition and better outcomes for First Nations people.

“It is now 2023. It is time to accept this generous invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It is time to listen. It is time to act. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by voting yes for a better future for all Australians.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Anne Urquhart Anne Urquhart strongly supports the bill and says it gives Australians the chance to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution as a way to recognise First Nations people and improve consultation on laws that affect them.

“The passage of this bill will put a simple but critical question to the Australian people. I urge all my colleagues to campaign for a strong 'yes' vote. I know that's what I'm doing, and I will vote 'yes'.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Penny Wong Wong strongly supports the bill and urges the Senate to vote yes, saying it is the opportunity to recognise First Peoples in the Constitution and give them a Voice on matters affecting their communities.

“We have an opportunity to vote 'yes' for constitutional recognition, to vote 'yes' for the form in which it has been requested—a voice to parliament. We have an opportunity to vote 'yes' for that better future. With the hope that this call for empowerment will be answered with the same ambition and grace with which it was issued, I commend this bill to the Senate.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Joanne Ryan Ryan strongly supports the bill, saying it is the first step toward a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

“The Uluru Statement from the Heart, as the Prime Minister says so often, is a generous invitation to walk on a journey with First Australians. Voting on this legislation in this parliament is the first step. Then a referendum and a vote at that referendum is the second step, and what a unifying day it potentially could be. I know that, in my part of the world, the families that I represent and those I speak to are really looking forward to the opportunity that this referendum provides, they're really looking forward to the notion of uniting Australia around this idea and they're really looking forward to having a Constitution that actually acknowledges our history, most importantly. I commend this bill to the House. I look forward to the vote. I look forward to the referendum.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Josh Wilson Josh Wilson strongly supports the bill and urges a yes vote, arguing it is a careful, long-running and sensible step to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and create a lasting way for them to be heard.

“It's a privilege to be able to speak in support of this Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 bill, on the lands of Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, having come to this place representing Fremantle or Waylyup, the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Peta Murphy Murphy strongly supports the bill and argues the Voice is a once-in-a-generation chance to let Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people help shape decisions that affect them.

“Now, in 2023, we have an opportunity to change that. We can say that we might not be the people who committed the wrongs, that wrote the Constitution that ignored 60,000-odd years of civilisation—that wasn't us—but we're going to be the people that address it. The Voice might not immediately fix the situation of the young boy that the member for Herbert was talking about, but how can you say that making sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people get to play a role in decisions that are made, in policies that are developed, that impact them directly couldn't be better than what we've got now?”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Malarndirri McCarthy McCarthy strongly supports the bill and urges Australians to vote yes, arguing it is a chance to improve life for First Nations people and make the country better.

“I call on all Australians: I may not think like you, and you may not think like me, and you may have come from Greece, from Italy, from Saudi Arabia, from the UK or from the US and made Australia your home. Well then, this is your opportunity to be a part of something special, to be a part of something historic. You may be a Muslim, you may be Catholic or Protestant—whatever your faith, this is your chance to be a part of something special; to create the Australia that we could have done, a long time ago, if we'd had the opportunity. Wherever you live across all the states—and I call on all of you, from New South Wales to Queensland, to the Northern Territory and across to Western Australia, over to South Australia, into Victoria and all you Tassie mob—every single one of you matters, and we need you. We need you to say 'yes'. We need you to walk with us, because we don't want to leave anyone behind, because we can be a better country. We must be a better country. In here, you hear all the ins and outs and the technicalities, and the legislation, or this law and that law. And that's okay, because that's what we are elected for, all these senators in here. But what the referendum is really about is you, the Australian people. Those that gathered on Anangu country called for Australians to walk with them. I reach out to you and echo that message too—a generous message; an invitation to walk in faith, with hope and with a great deal of love. And that means everyone—everyone.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Anne Aly Anne Aly strongly supports the bill and says it is a necessary step to show respect by enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

“I know that, when referendum day comes, they will vote for respect, and as a community we will prove that the Uluru statement, expressed from the heart, was received in the hearts of millions of Australians. I believe that we're ready to change the Constitution. I believe that Australia is ready to change for the better. I believe that history is calling.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Kristy McBain McBain strongly supports the bill and says constitutional recognition through a Voice is long overdue.

“We have to act. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road and say: 'We'll get to it at another point.' Now is the time to do something different, because we know that on every metric we are failing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Linda White White supports the bill and says the Voice is the right way to improve outcomes by letting First Nations people help shape decisions that affect them.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have asked for their voice back so that we can all move forward together, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians taking a rightful and dignified place in our shared future. I support this bill. I say, bring on the referendum to make the Voice the ninth change to the Constitution since Federation.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Steve Georganas Georganas strongly supports the bill and urges members to vote for it because he says constitutional recognition of the Voice will right a wrong, improve policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and help unite the country.

“The story of the Kaurna people is not much different from First Nations peoples all around Australia. So I ask this place respectfully—members on all sides—to find it in their hearts to vote for the bill. I know I will be supporting the 'yes' vote when the referendum comes. It's really important that we have a respectful debate and ensure that we right a wrong and recognise that this land was inhabited 60,000 years before the colonists came here.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Ged Kearney Ged Kearney supports the bill and says the Voice is a generous invitation from First Nations people that will improve laws and outcomes by ensuring they are heard.

“The offer that the Uluru Statement from the Heart put forward was a generous one and one I am proud to accept.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Jerome Laxale Laxale supports the referendum and urges a yes vote, arguing the Voice is a generous offer from Indigenous Australians that will improve recognition and consultation.

“I would encourage everyone to be guided by their heads, by their intellect and by their compassion. The Australia that I know and the Bennelong that I represent will make decisions based on reason and empathy, and I'm hopeful that they will vote in favour of this referendum.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Tania Lawrence Tania Lawrence supports the referendum bill and urges the House to back a Voice to Parliament as the first step toward reconciliation.

“I accept the invitation. I will walk on that path to the future of this country. I ask and implore that you reach deep into your hearts, speak to our First Nations people and ask yourself, 'Will not a Voice to Parliament mean that they are able to have an opportunity to speak directly to the parliament, to the executive, to the government, about laws that relate to them; to ensure that they have an opportunity to say what the impact would be, what the change will be; and an opportunity to be able to fully direct their own future?' I commend the bill to the House.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Stephen Jones Stephen Jones strongly supports the bill and says the Voice is needed to give First Nations people a constitutionally recognised place to speak to parliament.

“I'm proud to rise this evening to support the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 and I'm proud to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Michelle Ananda-Rajah Michelle Ananda-Rajah supports the bill and urges a yes vote, arguing that constitutional recognition through a First Nations Voice is the right thing to do.

“You'll be asked to approve this, and you have to write yes or no. You may have doubts when you are at the ballot box. My advice to you is to cast the doubts aside and vote yes, because this is simply the right thing to do. We can't keep doing what we're doing and expect a different result.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Carol Brown Brown strongly supports the bill and says she will vote yes because it would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constitutional recognition and a permanent voice to parliament.

“Again, I will be voting yes. I hope that the referendum is successful and that we can move forward together. Now is a time for our country to come together.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Julian Hill Julian Hill strongly supports the bill and urges Australians to vote yes, arguing that it is a historic chance to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution and give them a practical voice on matters that affect them.

“I have every faith in the Australian people that they will take this opportunity, take it seriously, and make the decision to vote yes to this historic change.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Madeleine King King strongly supports the bill and the referendum it enables, saying it is a modest but important constitutional change that will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a voice on matters affecting them.

“I speak today to support the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. It is unequivocally a good thing and right that the Australian people will get the opportunity to vote in a referendum that will enable an important change to our Constitution that will recognise our First Nations peoples through a voice to the parliament.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Karen Grogan Grogan supports the bill and urges the Senate to back constitutional recognition and the Voice.

“We have to make change. We have to do better. We have to do different. Those people said that what they would like to be able to do is see that, when they're adults, or when their great-grandchildren are going through school, they are not sitting there having the same conversations that we have been having for decades. Let's make this happen. Let's respect the deep culture and knowledge and let us finally deliver on recognition and reconciliation. I am proud to stand here and say yes, and I urge you to stand with me.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Zaneta Mascarenhas Zaneta Mascarenhas backs the Voice and urges a yes vote, arguing it is a practical way to respond to the ongoing failure of closing the gap and to give First Nations people a stronger say in decisions affecting them.

“Many of these metrics are shocking. Waiting for a royal commission or a Four Corners episode to expose one of these metrics is not efficient. We have a simple systematic solution and it's called a voice to parliament. As a scientist I know that the definition of 'insanity' is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Voting yes is very easy. It costs voters very little, but there is so much to gain for First Nations Australians.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Anthony Chisholm Anthony Chisholm supports the bill and says the Voice is a practical way to improve outcomes for First Nations people after years of little progress under the status quo.

“I support this bill and look forward to voting yes later this year.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Catherine King Ms King supports the bill and says it is needed to hold the referendum that would recognise First Peoples in the Constitution and establish a Voice.

“This referendum is the best chance we have to address the injustices of the past and to create change that will deliver a better future. This year our nation can recognise the truth of our history and provide a voice to those who have been ignored for too long. The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a generous, generous offer. I will be voting yes. I commend the bill to the House and I encourage all Australians to accept the Uluru Statement from the Heart, to vote yes on the referendum as it is coming up, to accept it with the spirit with which it was made and with which it was offered to the Australian people.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Gordon Reid Gordon Reid supports the bill and says it is needed to hold the referendum to establish the Voice and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution.

“We have a chance to do better together at the end of this year by voting yes. It all starts with this bill, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 bill. This bill is what is required to hold a referendum to amend our nation's birth certificate for the better. This bill is what is required to constitutionally recognise our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters and establish a voice. Once passed, the referendum will be held in the second half of this year.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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David Smith David Smith strongly supports the bill, saying the Voice is a practical way to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and improve policy by listening to communities.

“The call for a First Nations voice to be enshrined in the Constitution is not just another policy proposal to be debated at the level of strategy and argument. As well as a condition of lasting justice for Australia's First Peoples, it's an invitation for our nation as a whole to grow in wisdom's way.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Brian Mitchell Brian Mitchell supports the bill and wants the referendum to proceed, arguing it is a modest but important step to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution and give them an enshrined Voice.

“I rise to support the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Jess Walsh Jess Walsh supports the bill and says it is the first step in implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart through a constitutional Voice to parliament.

“Senator Dodson also said: 'We are capable of doing better.' I know we are, and I commend this bill to the Senate.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Maria Vamvakinou Vamvakinou supports the bill and says it should begin the referendum process to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a constitutionally enshrined Voice.

“This bill is simple, but it is also profound. It is deeply symbolic, but it is also about real and lasting change. It is about facing our past with honesty and embracing our future with hope and inclusion. It is about our integrity as a nation. It is about heart. It is about common sense. It is about honouring our First Nations people, as they have asked us to. So let's now give our fellow Australians the chance to answer this call.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Alison Byrnes Byrnes strongly supports the bill and urges the parliament and voters to back the Voice, arguing it is long overdue and a practical way to help close the gap by giving First Nations people direct input into laws and policy.

“I wholeheartedly support the legislation and urge all Australians to vote yes in the referendum.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Katy Gallagher Gallagher supports the bill and says it is an important step toward constitutional recognition, reconciliation and giving First Nations people a say on matters that affect them.

“I am proud to be supporting this bill but I'm also humbled. Indigenous Australians have generously and graciously asked us to walk a path with them. This bill will give all Australians the opportunity to take a positive step towards reconciliation, recognition and, importantly listening to First Nations people about services and supports that work for them. This opportunity for a nation does not come along every day. It is rare, and it has been a hard fight for many involved over many, many years. This opportunity is special, and we must seize it.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Emma McBride McBride strongly supports the bill and urges the House to accept the Voice as a long overdue constitutional reform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

“This is not a voice from the mind but a voice from the heart. This is a generous offer from those who met in Garma and all those who came before. It is an offer that we must generously accept. I have great faith in the Australian people, including in my community on the Central Coast of New South Wales. This is the best chance we have for a better future for all Australians.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Sally Sitou Sitou supports the bill and says it is time to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution and give them a greater say over policies that affect them.

“It's time to get this done. It's time we recognise and celebrate First Nations people in the Constitution. It's time we listened to First Nations people and gave them a greater say over the policies and decisions that impact them. It's time we demonstrate we are a big-hearted and compassionate country. It's time we as Australians rise to meet this moment.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Jenny McAllister McAllister supports the bill and says the referendum it enables is a chance to show Australia’s greatness by giving First Nations people the recognition they deserve.

“Pearl Gibbs was right: justice begets greatness but greatness requires justice. And, for First Nations people, justice requires recognition. Through this referendum, I am confident we will take the chance to demonstrate the greatness of this country found in the courage and the quiet decency of our fellow Australians.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Marielle Smith Smith supports the bill and says it is the first step toward a more united and reconciled future, driven by the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“This bill starts us on that path. I commend this bill. I support Voice, treaty and truth, and I want to use this opportunity to encourage every Australian, as they come to a decision later this year on the referendum, to be guided by open hearts and open minds.”
Australian Labor Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Andrew Charlton Charlton supports the bill and argues the Voice is needed to improve laws and outcomes for First Nations Australians by giving communities proper representation and a say in decisions that affect them.

“It's a fundamental fact that listening to communities leads to better laws, better policies and better outcomes, and the Voice proposal enables us to do just that. It will allow for proper representation from our First Nations peoples to inform the decisions that govern their lives, their communities and their future. It will allow for justice and help close the divide when it comes to education, health and economic outcomes. But, at the end of the day, it's also just the right thing to do. It's also just a change that we'll look back on in years to come and see as a positive movement forward in our national story.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Anika Wells Wells supports the bill and says the referendum is about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and listening to their voices on laws and policies that affect them.

“The referendum to enshrine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution will be about two things. It will be about recognising and it will be about listening—recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia with 65,000 years of history and continuous connection to this land, and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when it comes to laws and policies that affect them.”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Patrick Gorman Gorman supports the bill and argues the Voice is the right way to recognise and consult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, treating it as a chance to heal past injustice and move the country forward.

“It is this hope for the future that dominated my recent discussion with Dr Robert Isaacs, a great Western Australian Aboriginal leader. He said: 'The government must honour its commitment to the Uluru statement. The Voice will take not only Aboriginal people but the Australian community into the future—a new beginning, a new era for Aboriginal affairs in the community at large.'”
Australian Labor Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Alex Hawke ★ Alex Hawke opposes the bill and says he will campaign for the no case because he believes the Voice would entrench race-based rights in the Constitution instead of protecting equal rights for all Australians.

“I won't be supporting this bill and I certainly won't be supporting the referendum in its current state.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Julian Leeser ★ Leeser strongly supports the bill and says he will campaign for it and vote yes because he believes the Voice is a practical way to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and deliver long-delayed constitutional recognition.

“For me, I'm looking forward to supporting the 'yes' campaign. It will be a journey that I hope to share with Australians from all walks of life, particularly from my community. On referendum day, my wife, Joanna, and I will walk to the end of our street to the local school, where we'll help set up and work on a booth. On that day, we're going to bring biscuits, sandwiches, refreshments and drinks for the workers on both sides, because no matter what side you're on in this debate all of us are Australians who love our country and want the best for it. I believe in the Voice. I will campaign for it, and I will vote yes for it, because the time for constitutional recognition and a voice has come.”
Liberal Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Peter Dutton Dutton says the Liberal Party will oppose the bill because it would entrench a divisive, uncertain Voice in the Constitution and change the way democracy works.

“The Liberal Party does not consider that the proposal in this bill should be adopted, but we will not stand in the way of the Australian people having their say.”
Liberal Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Sussan Ley Ley says she will support the bill and vote yes, but argues the Prime Minister's constitutional proposal is unsound and would not improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

“Whilst I will be voting yes to this bill, I will be voting no to the Prime Minister's question. The Prime Minister's proposed reform of the Constitution is unsound. It is my strong view that a yes vote will not result in better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, but it could result in worse outcomes for all Australians.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Alex Antic Antic opposes the bill and says he will vote no because he sees the Voice as a permanent and unaccountable bureaucracy that would not deliver real benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“That's why I will be voting no not only to this bill in this place but also to the referendum, should it pass. I encourage my fellow Australians to do the same.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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David Fawcett Fawcett opposes the bill and says he will vote no because he thinks the Voice would divide Australians by race, weaken equality before the law, and create constitutional uncertainty and unintended legal consequences.

“In conclusion, I will be voting no in the referendum, because I care about recognition, I care about equality, I care about representative democracy and the Constitution. I care about avoiding blank cheques and avoiding unintended consequences. As one of the so-called 'authorised dissenters', I will also be voting no to this legislation, and I'm glad for that opportunity, because, again, going back to my first speech, I quoted Edmond Burke and highlighted that I owe Australians my judgement as well as my industry, and in my judgement a yes to this referendum would be a bad outcome for all Australians regardless of race.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Rowan Ramsey Ramsey opposes the bill and says he will vote no because he believes it would give one racial group special constitutional treatment and weaken equality before the law.

“The referendum proposal does not target need or disadvantage—far from it. It instead seeks to provide special advantage to a racial group determined by who their ancestors are, above all else, regardless of their circumstances. It inserts races and race in the Constitution in a completely new chapter. This is the principal reason why I'll be voting no when the referendum is staged.”
Liberal Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Michaelia Cash Cash says the Liberal Party supports Australians having a say but opposes the Voice because it is a risky, unknown and permanent change to the Constitution.

“We, as a coalition, or as the Liberal Party, will have a number of authorised dissenters who will help contribute to the 'no' case that is sent to electors as part of the referendum process. Our position is clear—we support the Australian people having their say, but we do not support this risky, unknown and permanent change to our Constitution. My very simple message to the Australian people is this: if you don't know how the Voice is going to work, vote no. If you don't know, vote no.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 13 June 2023
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Warren Entsch Entsch opposes the constitutional alteration as drafted and says the Voice should be legislated in Parliament instead of being written into the Constitution now.

“I am not opposed to the Voice per se, but it should be legislated in the parliament. We have no substantive detail, and it's a very significant thing to change the Constitution. We can't expect Australians to vote on a feeling or a guess. The old line, 'Trust us, vote yes and we'll figure out the details later,' is simply not going to fly. It's an extraordinary proposition and I completely understand why many Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, are having serious reservations.”
Liberal Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Bridget Archer Archer supports the bill and says her vote is yes because she sees the Voice as a practical step toward better outcomes and a stronger, more equitable future for First Nations people, especially in Tasmania.

“For our First Nations people, particularly in my home state of Tasmania, who have long been advocating for a better, brighter and more equitable future, my answer is yes.”
Liberal Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Scott Morrison Scott Morrison opposes the bill, saying the proposed Voice would permanently change the Constitution in a way that creates unnecessary risks, unknown consequences and unequal rights.

“For these reasons, I consider that the government's proposal to permanently change the Constitution, while positively motivated, is poorly constructed. It presents serious and unnecessary risks both known and unknown to the operations of the executive government and our parliament, upon which all Australians depend. Such deficiencies cannot be overcome or mitigated by the good intentions and sentiment of their creation. It also fundamentally breaks one of our nation's most important principles: that as Australians we are all equal and none of us are any more Australian than any other. As Australians, we are one and free. I believe we need to keep it that way and therefore cannot support the government's proposal at this referendum. That said, I remain committed to the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians and to all Australians being treated equally under our Constitution, and I look forward to the day when such a proposal is brought forward in a way that unites rather than divides our country. That proposal will have my enthusiastic support.”
Liberal Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Matthew Canavan Canavan opposes the bill and says the Voice is an unnecessary and potentially dangerous distraction that would divide Australians by race, create constitutional risk, and not solve the practical problems facing Indigenous communities.

“I think the best that could be said for this proposal to have a Voice to Parliament is that it's an unnecessary distraction from our shocking failures to deliver for Indigenous Australians. As I will try to outline this evening, I cannot see how a bureaucratic body here in Canberra can unpick the complex problems that Indigenous communities face across Australia.”
Liberal National Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Luke Howarth Howarth opposes the bill and says the government is hiding the fact that it would entrench a Voice in the Constitution.

“Instead he wants a constitutionally enshrined Voice in the Constitution, which we're dead against. Right now he could put in a voice to parliament through a legislative process in this House.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Susan McDonald McDonald says she cannot support the bill and will vote against it because she sees the Voice as a permanent and ill-considered constitutional change that would add bureaucracy without fixing disadvantage.

“Changing the Constitution is a big deal. It would have permanent outcomes. Change to the Constitution in an ill-considered way is not generous; it is unwise, and it risks the stable and successful nation that Australia is today. I cannot support this change to our Constitution.”
National Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Henry Pike Pike says the Liberal Party accepts Australians should be allowed to vote on the proposal, but he will vote against the bill and campaign for the no case.

“As outlined, while the Liberal Party supports the referendum being put to the Australian people, I'll be voting against the bill, as an authorised dissenter, in order to contribute to the formal 'no' case that will be distributed to Australian households. I ask Australians to review that material carefully, and I ask Australians to vote against this risky and permanent proposal.”
Liberal National Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Kerrynne Liddle Liddle opposes the bill and says the Voice amendment is the wrong way to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

“The Constitution provides the legal framework for how Australia is governed. Australians have, historically, been cautious about this, and we should be. That's because it matters for certainty and stability of government and its executive, and that should matter to each and every one of us. Since its creation in 1901, Australians have been asked 19 times to alter our founding document and only eight times have we voted to amend it. This time is not the right reason: it is not the right question, it is not the right words and it is not the right solution. So, publicly, I say no. And in the privacy of a ballot box, I will also say no.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Jacinta Nampijinpa Price opposes the Voice referendum and says she will vote no because she sees it as a divisive, permanent race-based change that distracts from practical solutions to Indigenous disadvantage.

“That's why I'll be voting no to the Voice and urging all Australians to say no too. We have real issues, real problems that need real solutions, and we need them now. The Voice is no way to it. That's why I'm voting no.”
Country Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Michael McCormack McCormack says the Nationals will oppose the bill because he believes it adds another layer of Canberra bureaucracy and will not close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“As Nationals, we believe that adding another layer of bureaucracy in Canberra won't genuinely close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The Nationals want to address the serious issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, by delivering frontline evidence based and place based solutions which will help lift Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people out of poverty. We want local decisions, not Canberra-led bureaucracy telling Aboriginal people what's good for them and what's not good for them. We want to stimulate economic participation, generate jobs, improve access to education, enhance the provision of health services and eliminate domestic and family violence.”
National Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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James Stevens James Stevens says he will support the bill so Australians can decide the issue at referendum, but he will campaign against the constitutional change and vote no.

“I will support this bill through the parliament. I'm very comfortable with the people of my electorate having their say on this. I think it is very important. It is something that needs to be resolved by having a referendum. I will support the bill. I will campaign against changing our Constitution in that referendum campaign. I will vote against it, and I will absolutely respect the result of that referendum when the people of this country have the final say. I commend the bill to the House.”
Liberal Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Paul Fletcher Fletcher says the Liberal Party will support the bill so the referendum can proceed, even though he opposes the constitutional Voice proposal itself and wants the public to make the final decision.

“I conclude by observing that this is an important bill. I am pleased to support it and, in turn, to cast a vote for the referendum being able to proceed. This decision will now be in the hands of the Australian people, and I am confident they will apply their trademark common sense and wise judgement in arriving at a decision for our nation.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Bridget McKenzie McKenzie opposes the bill and says she will vote no because she believes the proposed constitutional Voice is vague, risks legal and democratic disruption, and may not deliver practical improvements for Indigenous Australians.

“But today I stand in this chamber to express my concerns and opposition to the proposed change to our Constitution outlined in this bill. This bill has garnered significant attention. And while it professes to address the needs of Indigenous Australians, I firmly believe that its implementation poses great risk to our democratic institutions, to the decisions of future governments and to national cohesion. My concerns are twofold. Firstly, I fear it will fail in its stated aim of being the final and ultimate cure-all for the problems affecting many Indigenous Australians, particularly those in the remotest part of our country—in health, in welfare, and in educational and opportunity outcomes. As my colleague Senator Nampijinpa Price wrote earlier this year:”
National Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Zoe McKenzie McKenzie opposes the bill, saying the proposed Voice is too legally uncertain and could have serious constitutional consequences, including making government unworkable.

“It is with some sadness and disappointment that I rise to speak against the proposed Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. We all come to this place from different lives, with different personal and professional experiences and from different parts of this great wide land.”
Liberal Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Andrew Hastie Hastie says he will vote no to the Voice itself because he thinks it undermines equality before the law and risks dividing the country, but he will not stand in the way of the bill because it lets the referendum proceed.

“So, to my constituents in Canning, I say this: it's okay to vote either way after considering the arguments. And, having considered the arguments, I will be voting no in the best interests of all Australians, to uphold equality before the law and for the future stability of our democratic country. But I won't be standing in the way of this bill, which will enable the referendum to go forward.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Darren Chester Darren Chester opposes the bill, saying the Voice is poor public policy that will not deliver practical outcomes and will divide Australians along racial lines.

“So my opposition to the Voice today is not because I'm racist. It's because I believe it's actually poor public policy. I believe it won't achieve practical outcomes. What really worries me is that I believe the Voice, this debate, where we're heading, will divide Australians on the basis of race where we were never divided before. It actually undermines the way our democracy is meant to work, and I simply can't support it in its current form.”
National Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Keith Wolahan Wolahan says he cannot support the bill in its current form because he thinks the constitutional wording could create unintended legal consequences and a large administrative burden, especially around duties to consult or consider representations.

“When we look at the three parts that are proposed, it is part II that has drawn the most concern from this side and from many of those who made submissions to the committee. I would not and will never pretend that that risk is a veto. That is an erroneous submission and claim for anyone to make. The two duties are as follows: there is the potential for the High Court to find either a duty to consult in advance of decisions that are pending or a duty to consider the representations that are being made by the Voice. These twin duties aren't pulled out of thin air; they're quite common in the area of administrative law. They guide many of the areas that nonlawyers are familiar with, including the area of migration, where decisions made by the minister are reviewable not because there is a veto on the decision of the minister but that the minister hasn't properly considered all of the materials for that.”
Liberal Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Angus Taylor Angus Taylor says he will vote no to the bill because he считает it a permanent, broad and uncertain constitutional change that lacks detail and could divide Australians.

“While we do support the Australian people having their say, let me be clear: we do not support this risky, divisive, unknown and permanent change to our Constitution. The first point I'd make is that this proposal before us is permanent. It is impossible to change without another referendum. Once our High Court makes an interpretation, the parliament cannot overrule it.”
Liberal Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Jane Hume Jane Hume opposes the bill, saying she supports constitutional recognition in principle but cannot back this referendum question because it bundles recognition with an enshrined Voice, was not built on bipartisanship, and is too vague and risky.

“I can appreciate the passion and the emotion of those who believe that a voice to parliament is an answer to a problem we have long sought to solve. However, I expect that my position will be similar to many Australians'. My heart says, 'Yes, grasp the opportunity for constitutional recognition'—long in the waiting and quick in the taking—but in the end my head and my gut say no, because, no matter what the potential benefits, I can't support a poor proposition and I can't vote for this bad question that will create a bad law.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Ross Cadell Ross Cadell says the National Party senator cannot support the bill because he believes it would divide the country, create resentment, and risk the Constitution for an uncertain outcome.

“I wish I had better words. I wish I didn't have to disclose some of my own weaknesses, as a person who has not walked in those shoes. But I cannot vote for this. I beg anyone listening from government to pull this bill. (Time expired)”
National Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Hollie Hughes Hollie Hughes says the coalition will oppose the Voice referendum bill because it is risky, divisive, and being advanced without enough detail about how it would work.

“Our party's position is clear: we support the Australian people having their say, but we do not support this risky, divisive, unknown and permanent change to our Constitution. Our message to all Australians is this: if you don't know, say no.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Andrew Wallace Wallace opposes the bill and says the coalition will vote no because it would create a risky, divisive constitutionally enshrined body with unclear powers and legal consequences.

“Our position is clear. We support the Australian people having their say but we do not support this risky, divisive— (Time expired)”
Liberal National Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Ian Goodenough Ian Goodenough says he will oppose the bill because he считает the Voice is a risky, divisive and permanent constitutional change that would entrench racial division and create legal uncertainty.

“Let me be clear: I do not support the risky, divisive, unknown and permanent change to our Constitution. Changing our Constitution is a momentous step. It hasn't been done by referendum since 1977. However, Labor is refusing to reveal the details of legislation before Australians vote. The Voice is a three-stage process: voice, treaty, truth. This referendum is only the beginning of the process—the tip of the iceberg. Many Voice activists say this will be the first step towards reparations and other radical changes to existing property rights. How can a nation sign a treaty with some of its own citizens?”
Liberal Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Michael Sukkar Sukkar says the opposition will back the bill so the Australian people can vote on the Voice, but he personally opposes it and argues it would create race-based classes of citizenship and weaken equality.

“I will be opposing the Voice. I think it would be a retrograde step for our country to have classes of citizenship. Why would you want to alter the best democracy in the world?”
Liberal Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Andrew Bragg Bragg supports the bill and says he will vote yes, because he believes the Voice is a worthwhile reform that gives Indigenous communities more agency.

“I support the passage of this bill, and I will help write a 'yes' case should I be asked to. That will be my substantive contribution on this issue. I am not a commentator, nor am I a professional campaigner.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Phillip Thompson Phillip Thompson opposes the constitutional change and says he will not support the Voice because he believes it divides Australians on the basis of race and lacks enough detail about how it would work.

“As the federal member for Herbert I believe it is my role to outline my position to the community, which is why stand in this place today. I cannot support this constitutional change which divides Australians on the basis of race. I encourage Australians to think very carefully about their own decision. We must walk together as one.”
Liberal National Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Garth Hamilton Garth Hamilton opposes the bill and says he cannot support a constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal Voice because it would give different rights and responsibilities on the basis of race.

“I do not support the proposed Aboriginal Voice to Parliament on principle. I am fundamentally opposed to any move that seeks to distribute different rights and responsibilities through our Australian citizenship on the basis of race and, worse, that such division might be placed in our most important document, the Constitution.”
Liberal National Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Pat Conaghan 2 contributions Pat Conaghan opposes the bill, saying he supports closing the gap and practical reforms but not a constitutionally enshrined Voice that he считает would divide the nation on race and leave too much unclear.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Pat Conaghan on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech National Party • MP • 23 May 2023

Pat Conaghan opposes the bill, saying he supports closing the gap and practical reforms but not a constitutionally enshrined Voice that he считает would divide the nation on race and leave too much unclear. He argues the same goals can be pursued through legislative and community-led action without a referendum.

“But I will not vote 'yes' on a change that divides the nation arbitrarily on the lines of race and that leaves too much to individual interpretation.”
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Second reading speech National Party • MP • 25 May 2023

Conaghan opposes the bill, saying he supports recognition of First Nations people but not a constitutionally entrenched Voice to Parliament. He argues recognition belongs in the preamble and asks people not to confuse that with the Voice proposal.

“I support every member of my community and I support every First Nations person and every First Nations people. This is not a question about whether we should recognise them in the Constitution. They should be in the preamble, and I have said that all along. This is about a voice to parliament. Let's not conflate the two issues.”
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Dean Smith Dean Smith says he supports constitutional recognition for First Nations people, but opposes this bill because he believes the Voice is too vague, legally risky and divisive.

“I am committed to working towards constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, but I'm opposed to the form proposed in this constitution alteration bill. There is significant work to be done. However, when I reflect on the milestones reached thus far on the journey to reconciliation and genuine recognition, I remain ambitious, encouraged and optimistic, and I am someone who welcomes that embrace of Indigenous consciousness that now sits much more easily across the whole country. But there is no shame in defeating a bad idea if there is a resolve to soldier on and find a better way—a better way born from genuine cooperation and one that will enjoy the widest possible community endorsement. I commit myself to that project if this referendum fails. Until then, I'm satisfied to continue to trust the voices of Kununurra, Derby, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing over a voice in Canberra.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Anne Ruston Ruston says she will support the bill's passage so Australians can have a say, but she does not support enshrining the Voice in the Constitution because she считает it risky, uncertain and divisive.

“I too rise to speak on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. The proposal contained in this bill to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in our Constitution is not a proposal that I can support. However, I will support the passage of this piece of legislation because I, like the Liberal Party, will not stand in the way of Australians having their say on this really important issue. One of the key differences between the Liberal Party and the Labor Party is that we place far greater trust in the democratic institutions of our country, which is why we are concerned by the idea of transferring authority out of the hands of the people who have been elected to these institutions and hand it over to the courts, to people who do not represent the people of Australia. So, whilst we do support people having their say, we do not support the permanent change to our Constitution, because Labor's Voice is four things. It's risky, it's unknown, it's divisive and, above all, it will be permanent.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Richard Colbeck Colbeck opposes the bill and says he will move amendments, arguing the referendum question was handled through a flawed and divisive process rather than an inclusive one.

“I want to make the point that the way that the Prime Minister has run this process has not brought us together. From a completely different perspective to the one that Senator Nampijinpa Price expressed just a moment ago, the Prime Minister has divided us, because the process of considering even the question wasn't inclusive, so I won't support the question at the second reading or the third reading, because I want it to be on the record and I want the Prime Minister to take the responsibility, as he should, for this flawed process.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Nola Marino Marino says she will support the bill passing the House so the referendum can go to the Australian people, but she opposes the draft constitutional wording because she считает it creates serious legal and constitutional risk and was brought forward without enough detail or process.

“However, I do support this bill passing through the House so that the Australian people can have their say. I want to make it very clear: it is not the members of parliament or senators in this place who will decide the outcome of this referendum; it will be entirely the responsibility and the decision of the Australian people. So every Australian citizen will have their opportunity to have their say, to vote for or against the Labor government's proposed changes to the Australian Constitution, and I'm hoping that every Australian will take their vote seriously.”
Liberal Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Jonathon Duniam 2 contributions Duniam opposes the bill and says he will vote no in the referendum, arguing that the proposed Voice lacks detail, could create legal uncertainty, and may undermine equality before the law.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Jonathon Duniam on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023

Duniam opposes the bill and says he will vote no in the referendum, arguing that the proposed Voice lacks detail, could create legal uncertainty, and may undermine equality before the law. He wants Australians to have their say, but says they should reject the proposal after weighing its implications.

“As I said before, Australians are being asked to make perhaps the biggest decision that they will need to make in this generation. I am simply asking Australians to stop and to think about the implications of the decision before them. Research the questions being thrown out there. Don't dismiss them as irrelevant, out of touch, racist or disinformation. See what it means for the future of the country, for your children, for your neighbours, and make your decision on that basis. I know I will be voting no in the referendum, but I will support Australians having their say. (Time expired)”
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Second reading speech Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023

Duniam says the coalition will let the bill pass so Australians can vote in the referendum, but it will not support the Voice question itself. He argues the government should have pursued legislated local and regional voices and a more bipartisan approach instead of the binary model before the parliament.

“At this point I'd like to refer to the position taken by the coalition, which is to not support the question in the referendum, while of course allowing Australians to have their say through the passage of this bill, to allow the referendum to take place. But rather than the binary situation we find ourselves in, where it is the approach that is on the table or nothing, we prefer, as has been outlined by a number of my colleagues in this debate—and indeed through the committee process and by the Leader of the Opposition—to have local and regional voices legislated for to enable that grassroots feedback and input to policymaking and decision-making that we talked about earlier, and a truly bipartisan approach to constitutional recognition.”
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David Gillespie David Gillespie opposes the bill, saying it would create an unelected constitutional body that could drive legal challenges, slow government decisions, and divide Australians.

“That is why, in truth, I can't support it. It really is going to create an unelected body, solely chosen on the basis of heritage and race. After getting rid of restrictions in 1967 based on race, we are now putting it back into our Constitution. And it is dividing people. It's not dividing Indigenous and whites or non-Indigenous people but people of all races. People are coming to me and saying, 'What's going on here? I thought Australia was egalitarian.' Some Indigenous people in my electorate are for it; some of them think, 'I can't understand what it's doing. All we're hearing from is these top-level people down in Canberra who fly off to the Northern Territory when they're talking about Indigenous matters.' They want to be treated the same as everyone.”
National Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Aaron Violi Violi says the Liberal Party will support the bill because it gives Australians the chance to vote on the constitutional change, but he argues the government has not answered key questions about how local Indigenous voices will be heard and whether the model is legally sound.

“That is why the Liberal Party is supporting this bill, to allow Australians to have their say. To start, it is important to note that the Liberal Party supports the recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution and legislated local and regional voices to ensure Indigenous communities, like ours in Healesville, have their voice heard.”
Liberal Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Tony Pasin Pasin says the Liberal Party will oppose the bill because he thinks putting the Voice in the Constitution would permanently divide Australians and create legal and political uncertainty.

“Instead, I've got to be honest and I'm going to call it for what it is. This is a blatant political attempt to create a wedge between those opposite and those who sit on this side of the place, so that the Prime Minister can have his Redfern moment. You know what? Dividing the Australian people is not worth that. If he wants to be exalted as a statesman, he should stop this process right now and he should tell the Australian people he's going to join with his opponents to propose changing the preamble in the Australian Constitution. That will bring Australians together.”
Liberal Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Llew O'Brien Llew O'Brien opposes the bill and says he will vote no at the referendum because he believes the Voice would divide the Constitution, create unequal treatment, and has not been shown to deliver real improvements.

“As it stands today, the Constitution treats every Australian citizen equally. It is everyone's Constitution, and we are all brothers and sisters enjoying that equal citizenship. But we must also remember that this is the Constitution we will pass on to future generations of Australians. My conscience tells me I have to make decisions that will unite our children, not divide them, into the future. That is why I'm saying no to this legislation. I'll be saying no at the referendum, and I'll be voting no to the Voice.”
National Party • MP • 24 May 2023
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Bert Van Manen Van Manen says he will support the bill so Australians can vote on the proposed constitutional change, but argues the Voice proposal is too poorly detailed and divisive to be a risk worth taking.

“As others on this side have noted, the coalition supports the passage of this bill and, importantly, Australians having their say. That's why I'm supporting the passage of this bill, allowing every Australian to vote on the proposed question and on whether it should be adopted and enshrined in our Constitution.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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James McGrath James McGrath opposes the bill and says Australians should vote no because he believes the Voice would divide the country, entrench race in the Constitution, and create uncertainty by leaving key details unresolved.

“I will be voting against this bill and, I will be working my hardest in Queensland to ensure that Queensland votes no to this proposed constitutional change.”
Liberal National Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Perin Davey 2 contributions Perin Davey says she will vote against the bill because she thinks the proposed constitutionally enshrined Voice is a risky, permanent change that goes beyond simple recognition and could add bureaucracy without improving outcomes.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Perin Davey on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech National Party • Senator • 13 June 2023

Perin Davey says she will vote against the bill because she thinks the proposed constitutionally enshrined Voice is a risky, permanent change that goes beyond simple recognition and could add bureaucracy without improving outcomes. She argues existing advisory and representative bodies already exist, and that local, flexible engagement is a better way to help Indigenous communities.

“From the outset, let me make it clear that I do support Australians having their say via a referendum. I, and my Nationals colleagues, supported the referendum bill earlier this year to ensure that Australians can have their say, but I will be voting against this bill before us, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, because I do not support the proposal that is being put to the Australian people.”
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Second reading speech National Party • Senator • 14 June 2023

Perin Davey opposes the bill, saying she supports practical, evidence-based ways to close the gap but will not support creating a Voice bureaucracy based on identity. She argues the focus should be on services and change for all Australians rather than race-based representation.

“As I'm in continuation in the debate on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, I realise I've only a short amount of time left, so I just want to reiterate that I am absolutely committed to working with my democratically elected colleagues to listen to our communities and to support frontline, evidence based solutions to address closing the gap, to close this city-country divide and to ensure that we hopefully can drive change from the ground up. What I am not committed to doing is supporting the establishment of a bureaucracy that can only have a governance board based on an identity.”
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James Paterson James Paterson says he will vote for the bill so Australians can have their say, but he opposes the constitutional change itself because he считает it is dangerous and wrong in principle to treat Australians differently in the Constitution.

“I rise to speak on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. When this debate concludes, I will be voting for the bill, not because I support this constitutional change; I don't. I think it is constitutionally dangerous and wrong in principle to treat Australians differently in our foundational document. But it is right that the Australian people should have their say, and I don't wish to stand in the way of that.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Keith Pitt Keith Pitt opposes the bill and says he will vote no, arguing it creates division and treats Australians differently instead of keeping the country united.

“We are one people, we are one country and we are all equal, for we are one and free. I will be voting no to this legislation, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023; I will be voting no to the proposed changes to the Constitution; and I will be campaigning for the 'no' side of the case. For me, this is a values based decision. I believe all Australians are equal, not that some Australians should have a different level of democracy or a different approach to democracy, not that one group of Australians has different rights to others. It is a fundamental tenet of this country that we are all one people, and those values are what I have used to make a decision in terms of this legislation and the proposal that has been put forward by the Labor Party.”
National Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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Scott Buchholz Buchholz opposes the bill in its current form and says he cannot support it because there has been no amendment, no compromise, and no bipartisan wording that would give the referendum the best chance of passing.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to support this bill before the House, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, in its current form. With the time afforded to me, I'd like to touch on three particular points. I want to share how my family is intertwined with our First Nations people; I want to share correspondence and feedback that my office has received on what the people of my electorate of Wright have been saying—and I mentioned those people in my maiden speech and labelled them 'the silent majority'—and I want to share some data from previous referendums, of which only eight of 44 proposals with constitutional change have been approved, and, moreover, how the eight that were successful navigated their path to success.”
Liberal Party • MP • 23 May 2023
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David Littleproud Littleproud says the Nationals will oppose the bill because they believe a constitutionally enshrined Voice would add another layer of Canberra bureaucracy, create legal risk, and divide Australians on race rather than deliver practical help to Indigenous communities.

“Here in Australia, our core democratic values are worth fighting for. They're worth preserving and protecting. The Nationals believe that the Voice undermines our robust, genuine liberal democratic values, values which we will always support and which have helped make our country the best in the world. Crucially, a core component that underpins our free, liberal, democratic society in Australia is the fundamental principle that every citizen is considered equal under the law. A constitutionally enshrined advisory body to parliament based solely on a person's race does not align with this. This is about making sure we come back to one principle, one tenet: we're all equal. There are 227 voices here in the Australian parliament representing all 26 million Australians, no matter their colour, no matter their creed, no matter their religion. We take that seriously. I'm proud of the fact that this nation has elected 11 Indigenous Australians not just to represent Indigenous Australians but to represent all Australians. It's for these reasons the Nationals will, therefore, be opposing this bill.”
National Party • MP • 22 May 2023
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Rick Wilson Rick Wilson opposes the bill and says he will vote against it because he does not support enshrining the Aboriginal Voice in the Constitution.

“I did also want to make the point that I absolutely support the right of the government to take this referendum to the Australian people. It was certainly an election commitment that they had made, and the Australian people deserve to have their say on this important issue. I will be voting against this particular legislation this evening, if that is in fact when the vote takes place, as an authorised dissenter. The reason—I'm talking specifically to my constituents here—is because I had some input into the 'no' pamphlet I will have to be recorded as having voted against this legislation. That is why I stand here tonight—to explain that position. I will also now explain why that is so important.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Jenny Ware Ware says she will not stand in the way of the bill and supports Australians having a vote on the referendum, but she is uneasy about the Voice component and says the government should have split constitutional recognition from the enshrined Voice.

“I was elected by the people of Hughes as a Liberal and under the Liberal brand. I commend my party's position to support this bill to the extent that we will not stand in the way of Australians having their say on the bill and on the referendum. This is appropriate.”
Liberal Party • MP • 30 May 2023
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Mark Coulton 2 contributions Mark Coulton says he will not support the bill and argues the proposed Voice would be constitutionally entrenched, selected by parliament, and unlikely to benefit the Aboriginal communities he represents.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Mark Coulton on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech National Party • MP • 22 May 2023

Mark Coulton says he will not support the bill and argues the proposed Voice would be constitutionally entrenched, selected by parliament, and unlikely to benefit the Aboriginal communities he represents. He says he is not opposed to constitutional recognition in principle, but he cannot back this model because he believes it lacks accountability and a clear way for his constituents to have their voices heard.

“I said I have concerns if this goes either way. I am concerned that if it doesn't get up—and I am definitely not voting for it, and I suspect it might not get up—that also is quite negative. I only wish the government had put some more thought into it and put up something that was acceptable to the Australian people. The idea that this could be legislated by parliament is not a strange one. I'm on the record; if you go back to my first speech, I talked about constitutional recognition for Aboriginal people. I'm certainly not opposed to that. What I am opposed to is a body that, once it is in place, is there forever. If it comes to a position where the people I represent feel they aren't being represented by that body, what is the mechanism for them to have some say and get their voices through? We've seen some of the proponents be quite aggressive and disrespectful to people with an alternative point of view in this whole process.”
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Second reading speech National Party • MP • 23 May 2023

Coulton opposes the Voice and says it is virtue-signalling that will mostly create well-paid jobs for a few people while doing nothing for the Aboriginal communities he represents. He argues the government should focus on practical support instead of this program.

“So what we're seeing in this debate is, I think, white middle-class Australia being given an opportunity to assuage some sort of guilt. We're going to see a small number of Aboriginal people receive high-paid jobs from which they can't be sacked, but I can tell you the good people that I've been representing in this place for 15½ years—the 16½ per cent of the population in my electorate who are Aboriginal—will get nothing from this program. I'm sick of the hypocrisy. We need to be doing more practical things to support our people, not this virtue-signalling we're seeing with this.”
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Slade Brockman Brockman says he will vote no on the Voice referendum and argues the bill should not proceed because the proposed constitutional change is too serious, divides rather than unites, and does not improve the Constitution.

“The fact that the race power there is an anachronism. It should go. But, as I have said, the enlightenment project is an ongoing one. Our Constitution can be improved, but the current referendum proposal does not do so. Sadly, it seeks to divide, not unite. It does not elicit universal principles of equality and a steadfast defence of the individual, regardless of heritage.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Melissa Price Price opposes the bill because she says she does not support the Voice proposal, arguing it lacks enough detail and was rushed.

“In conclusion, I do not support the proposal that is contained within this bill. However, I will not stand in the way of the Australian people having their say. It is right and proper that Australians have the final say on the referendum.”
Liberal Party • MP • 25 May 2023
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Wendy Askew Askew says she will support the bill so Australians can have their say, but she does not support the Voice proposal itself because she считает it risky, divisive and too unclear.

“We don't believe this proposal should be adopted, because it is risky and divisive, but we do believe in Australians having the chance to have their say on this matter. As a result, I will vote yes to facilitate the passage of the bill later tonight.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Andrew Willcox 2 contributions Willcox opposes the bill, saying the Voice would add another Canberra layer of bureaucracy without fixing the practical problems facing First Nations communities.

Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Andrew Willcox on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

Second reading speech Liberal National Party • MP • 24 May 2023

Willcox opposes the bill, saying the Voice would add another Canberra layer of bureaucracy without fixing the practical problems facing First Nations communities. He argues the proposal has been rushed, lacks detail, and would divide the nation rather than close the gap.

“As I rise today to speak against the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, I want to remind the House how successful our Constitution and democracy have been since the Constitution came into effect in 1901.”
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Second reading speech Liberal National Party • MP • 24 May 2023

Andrew Willcox says he will vote against the bill because he thinks a constitutionally enshrined Voice would divide Australians, create a racial distinction, and lacks the detail voters deserve. He argues the government has not answered key questions and says the public should vote no if they do not know what the proposal means.

“For these reasons, I will be voting 'no' to the Canberra voice to parliament. And it's fine for the Australian people to vote 'no'. It's not racist to vote 'no'. And I believe: if you don't know, then vote 'no'.”
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Gerard Rennick Rennick opposes the bill and says he will vote no to the referendum because the government has not provided enough detail about how the Voice would work before making a permanent constitutional change.

“I won't be voting for this bill, and I will be voting no to the referendum.”
Liberal Party • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Dorinda Cox Cox strongly supports the bill and says it is needed to give First Nations people a constitutionally recognised voice in Parliament.

“I am proud to speak in support of this bill for constitutional recognition for First Nations people and to create a voice to the nation's parliament.”
Australian Greens • Senator • 13 June 2023
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Barbara Pocock Pocock supports the bill and says it is a long-overdue first step toward constitutional recognition and a real First Nations Voice.

“I rise to speak in support of the Constitutional Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 bill. I acknowledge and pay my respects to the First Nations people with us here today, especially Uncle Major 'Moogy' Sumner, an honoured elder and leader of the Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna people of South Australia.”
Australian Greens • Senator • 15 June 2023
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David Shoebridge Shoebridge says the Greens will back the bill and vote yes, because he sees the Voice as a first step toward First Nations self-determination, truth-telling and treaty.

“The Voice to Parliament is just one step towards achieving meaningful justice for First Nation peoples while we progress truth telling, treaty making and self-determination. I don't think the Voice is a magic solution to all of this, but it is a start. And this referendum will be a moment for the Australian people to say clearly and loudly, 'Yes, we want to walk this walk with First Nations peoples.' Together, we can take that first step on Voice and also travel together along the harder, the longer path of truth telling and treaty making. But all hard journeys start with a first step. Let's take that step today and vote 'yes' on this bill.”
Australian Greens • Senator • 16 June 2023
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Sarah Hanson-Young Hanson-Young strongly supports the bill and says the Greens want a yes vote to enshrine an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution.

“We know there is much more work to do. The Greens were the first party to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and we support progressing, of course—and desperately know it's needed—truth-telling and treaty-making alongside a constitutional voice. This referendum is a chance for us to be on the right side of history. It's a moment that won't come again easily, and it is essential that we win this 'yes' vote this year.”
Australian Greens • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Larissa Waters Waters supports the bill and wants the Voice referendum to succeed as the first step toward truth-telling, treaty and wider First Nations justice.

“Critically, a Voice to Parliament is only one element of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, an invitation to deliver truth-telling, treaty and Voice. As the first party to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, the Greens support progressing all of these elements. We support a Voice to Parliament, but it's but one of the three elements of the Uluru statement. They are intended as a package, to build the scaffolding for a stronger Australia. A successful Voice referendum later this year could be the start of change for First Nations people as we move towards truth-telling, treaty-making and self-determination.”
Australian Greens • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Adam Bandt Bandt says the Greens will back the Voice because it is a necessary first step toward justice for First Nations people and because defeating it would push truth and treaty further away.

“But this country is changing. We want a different future. We want to be more than a prison island. We want to come to terms with how we all came to be here. We want to punch up and not down. We want a country which treats everyone fairly. We want to be brave and bold, not weak and cowardly. We want to be proud of our future. So we will back the Voice. But it must be just the beginning. The Greens will fight to make sure the government also implements truth and treaty.”
Australian Greens • MP • 23 May 2023
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Mehreen Faruqi Faruqi says the Greens will support the bill and vote yes to the Voice, because First Nations people have long been ignored and deserve a constitutional Voice.

“I will be voting yes to the Voice, but it should be the start of driving the structural changes and genuine self-determination rightfully demanded by First Nations people, not another unfulfilled promise. The Voice is important, but it is definitely not enough.”
Australian Greens • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Max Chandler-Mather Chandler-Mather supports the bill and argues it should be part of a broader path to truth-telling and treaty, not a complete solution on its own.

“A voice to parliament democratically selected by First Nations people in tandem with truth-telling and treaty can help bring the country along towards First Nations justice.”
Australian Greens • MP • 24 May 2023
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Stephen Bates Stephen Bates says the Greens will support the Voice referendum and back the bill, because it is a necessary step toward First Nations justice.

“It is through this lens that the Australian Greens and I come to the consideration of this legislation, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. The Greens will be supporting the 'yes' campaign during the referendum.”
Australian Greens • MP • 23 May 2023
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Elizabeth Watson-Brown Elizabeth Watson-Brown says the Greens support the Voice referendum and want the bill to pass, because it is an important step toward truth, treaty and self-determination for First Nations people.

“Against all of these injustices, First Nations people have fought back. They've raised their voices, only to have those voices silenced and ignored. So the idea that alongside truth and treaty Australia will have a Voice to Parliament is an important and timely one, and the Greens support the campaign for yes. In fact, the Greens were the first to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, and we see Truth, Treaty and Voice as intimately bound up with one another.”
Australian Greens • MP • 23 May 2023
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Malcolm Roberts Roberts opposes the bill and says he will vote no because he sees the Voice as a racist, race-based constitutional change that would create division and a new bureaucracy without fixing the problems faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“Lastly, what is the point of a voice when the problem is not Australians speaking up; the problem is politicians not listening. It is the arrogance, the deceit, the unwillingness to listen. I will vote no.”
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Kate Chaney ★ Chaney strongly supports the bill, saying the Constitution should be changed to recognise First Nations people and establish a Voice so governments can listen better and make more effective policy.

“I rise today to support this bill, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. I believe that it's time we asked the Australian people to make this change to our Constitution. This change will be both symbolic and practical.”
Independent • MP • 22 May 2023
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Helen Haines Haines supports the bill and urges Australians to vote yes, saying it is a meaningful step toward giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a real say in laws and policies that affect them.

“This bill's proposal has a simple intention: to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a say in the policy and legislation that affects them. I wholeheartedly support this intention, and I am proud to take my place in this historic moment to embrace an Australia that reflects who we are as a modern nation—truly reflects who we are as a modern nation, one looking forward.”
Independent • MP • 24 May 2023
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Kylea Tink Tink supports the bill and says the Voice is a practical way to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and improve laws and outcomes for First Nations communities.

“Ultimately, I welcome this bill and the consequential constitutional alterations. The future I think it will enable excites me, and it is a future I think my children want, but ultimately each of us will have to make our own decision on the day our vote is cast. I just hope that in my role as the member for North Sydney I can ensure that as many people as possible cast their vote that day from a place of optimism and courage, seeking to leave this place better than we found it.”
Independent • MP • 22 May 2023
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Zoe Daniel Zoe Daniel supports the bill and says it is the right way to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution and give them a practical voice, not just symbolism.

“I will support this bill.”
Independent • MP • 22 May 2023
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Lidia Thorpe Lidia Thorpe opposes the bill and says she will vote no because it fails to recognise First Nations sovereignty and creates only a powerless advisory body.

“Therefore, in the name of the black sovereign movement, I will be voting no the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. The government has failed to show good faith. I cannot support a referendum that does not acknowledge our sovereignty. A step away from recognising sovereignty is not a step in the right direction. I cannot support a referendum that is merely intended to make colonisers in this country feel better about themselves while not giving us any real say.”
Independent • Senator • 15 June 2023
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Andrew Wilkie Wilkie supports the bill and says it is needed to enable a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

“So I support this bill, just as I support a constitutionally-enshrined voice to parliament, and I look forward to voting 'yes' in the referendum later this year. To that end, I urge all Australians to do the same, because it's way beyond time for us to listen to First Nations people and it's way beyond time for them to have an effective say in the thinking, policies and laws that affect them.”
Independent • MP • 25 May 2023
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Monique Ryan Ryan says she will vote for the bill because her community overwhelmingly supports constitutional recognition and a voice to parliament for First Nations Australians.

“I will be voting in favour of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023 because my community overwhelmingly supports recognising First Nations Australians in the Constitution and giving them a voice to parliament.”
Independent • MP • 22 May 2023
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David Pocock Pocock supports the bill and says a Voice to Parliament is a practical and symbolic step toward reconciliation because it would help First Peoples be heard on laws that affect them.

“I rise in support of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023. I know we acknowledge country in the morning, at the start of the Senate, but it does seem fitting to acknowledge that we are on Ngunnawal country, an incredible part of the world that has been looked after for tens of thousands of years. As an immigrant to this country, having moved here 20 years ago with my family, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that it has afforded me and will always be grateful for that and seek to contribute.”
Independent • Senator • 14 June 2023
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Allegra Spender Spender supports the bill and urges a yes vote, saying the Voice is a modest and simple proposal that reflects what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people asked for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“It is time to say yes. I support this bill.”
Independent • MP • 24 May 2023
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Record

Full record

Key dates and decisions

All parliamentary events

30 Mar 2023

House · Introduced and read a first time

Introduced

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
30 Mar 2023

House · Second reading moved

Second reading opened

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
22 May 2023

House · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
23 May 2023

House · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
24 May 2023

House · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
25 May 2023

House · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
30 May 2023

House · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
31 May 2023

House · Second reading agreed to

Recorded vote: 120 to 25.

Second reading agreed

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
31 May 2023

House · Consideration in detail debate

Consideration in detail

The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.
31 May 2023

House · Third reading agreed to

Recorded vote: 121 to 25.

Third reading agreed

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
13 June 2023

Senate · Introduced and read a first time

Introduced

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
13 June 2023

Senate · Second reading moved

Second reading opened

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
13 June 2023

Senate · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
14 June 2023

Senate · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
15 June 2023

Senate · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
16 June 2023

Senate · Second reading debate

Second reading debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
16 June 2023

Senate · Second reading agreed to

Recorded vote: 42 to 13.

Second reading agreed

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
16 June 2023

Senate · Committee of the Whole debate

Committee of the Whole debate

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
19 June 2023

Senate · Third reading moved

Third reading agreed

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
19 June 2023

Senate · Third reading debated

Third reading agreed

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
19 June 2023

Senate · Third reading agreed to

Recorded vote: 52 to 19.

Third reading agreed

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
19 June 2023

Parliament · Finally passed both Houses

Passed both houses

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.

Committee activity

Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023

Current status

Policy area

What does this bill do?

Why was it introduced?

Broader context

Key criticism

Who supported it?

What does this bill do?

Broader context for this bill

How did it move through Parliament?

The main case against this bill

Recorded votes

How the bill itself passed

Senate passed the bill

Senate passed the bill

House passed the bill

House passed the bill

Senate cleared second reading

House cleared second reading

Amendments at a glance

State sovereignty is not ceded

Who spoke, and what they said

Mark Dreyfus

Alex Hawke

Julian Leeser

Kate Chaney

Labor

Coalition

Greens

One Nation

Minor parties and independents

Full record