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Penny Wong on Voice Referendum

Respects referendum outcome (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Penny Wong confirms the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is 'gone' but suggests future progress might mirror marriage equality.

Key Points

  • She stated that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is "gone" following its defeat in the 2023 referendum.

  • She suggested the debate over the Voice might eventually be looked upon as a past argument, similar to marriage equality.

  • The government is now concentrating on finding different pathways to achieve reconciliation and close the gap, respecting the referendum outcome.

Summary

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which was defeated in the 2023 referendum, is currently "gone." Following comments she made suggesting the proposal could eventually be viewed like the successful marriage equality campaign, she walked back the implication of a future referendum. She affirmed that the government respects the result of the referendum, where 60 per cent voted 'No', and stated that the focus now shifts to practical reconciliation and closing the gap through other means.

Despite clarifying that the Prime Minister has ruled out revisiting the modest proposal or legislating an advisory body, Wong expressed a hope that future generations might view the argument over the Voice similarly to how they view the past arguments surrounding marriage equality. The government spokesperson claimed her initial remarks were a reflection on how progress on reconciliation would eventually render current arguments obsolete, rather than a commitment to a second vote.

Key Quotes

“It'll become something, it'll be like, people go “did we even have an argument about that?”

Frequently Asked Questions

Penny Wong currently confirms that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is 'gone' following the 'No' vote in the 2023 referendum. She stated that the government respects the result delivered by the Australian people. Her current focus, she has indicated, is on progressing reconciliation through practical measures rather than revisiting the referendum question.

Yes, Penny Wong has clarified her position following earlier comments that suggested a future referendum was possible. She has since walked back that implication, confirming the Prime Minister has ruled out revisiting the 'modest proposal.' She now explicitly states the Voice is 'gone,' signalling adherence to the referendum's democratic outcome.

The Foreign Minister suggested that people might look back on the argument for the Voice in a future decade, similar to how the marriage equality debate is now viewed. While she stated the Voice is 'gone,' this comment caused speculation that the underlying principle might return in a different form later. The government quickly moved to state no second referendum is planned.