Albo rejects second Voice referendum suggestion

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected suggestions from Senator Penny Wong that the Indigenous body rejected in the Voice referendum will be resurrected in the next parliament.

“It’ll become something, it’ll be like, people go “did we even have an argument about that?” Ms Wong said on the Betoota Talks podcast.

Labor PR machine went into overdrive to negate the suggestion that the re-election of the Albanese government would lead to the resurrection of the policy.

“The Minister was clearly reflecting on the heated debate on how we address reconciliation and close the gap – and saying that as progress is achieved, today’s arguments will no longer be an issue,” a campaign spokesperson said.

“The government has been clear that we respect the outcome of the referendum, and we need to find different paths to achieve reconciliation in this country.”

Mr Albanese has said there will be no second referendum, after Australians voted 60 per cent to 40 per cent in 2023 against the proposal.

“I respect the outcome (of the referendum), we live in a democracy,” he said.

But the government, on March 27, refused to rule out a second vote when asked by Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash if the Prime Minister was still committed to Voice, Treaty, Truth.

Ms Wong refused to answers and directed the question to a public servant.

“The government remains committed to the principles of the Uluru Statement and continues to engage in good faith with leaders and communities around next steps,” Greta Doherty, First Assistant Secretary of the Social Policy division said.