The prime minister has criticised the opposition's proposal for a second referendum as "sabotage", saying it ignores what Indigenous people have asked for.

• Australians will vote on October 14 on a constitutional change to create an Indigenous advisory body known as a "Voice"
• Peter Dutton proposed a second referendum on a constitutional acknowledgement of Indigenous history
• The PM said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have asked for a Voice, not "just recognition"

It's been called "idiotic", "absurd" and unnecessary – but Opposition Leader Peter Dutton insists a second referendum on Indigenous recognition would be a success.

Australians will go to a national vote on October 14 to decide whether to change the constitution to create a new Indigenous advisory body known as a "Voice".

If that referendum fails Mr Dutton says that he would support calling another vote to acknowledge Australia’s Indigenous history.

Shane Phillips, an Aboriginal community leader in Redfern, said he was "baffled" by the opposition leader's call for a new referendum.

"Do you think what Dutton's going to put together is going to be any better than what we as a people have designed for ourselves?"

"After we've gone through all of this — a Voice to design our own future — it doesn't make sense to anyone."

Anthony Albanese said that is not what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for.

"They're already planning the sequel while doing everything they can to sabotage the original."

Mr Dutton is campaigning against the Voice to Parliament referendum, arguing it is divisive and lacks detail.

But he said he does support inserting a simple acknowledgement of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into the constitution.

"I think it's the right and the respectful thing to do to simply acknowledge our history and I think is the right thing to do for Indigenous Australians," Mr Dutton said.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie called Mr Dutton’s comments "bizarre".

"Absolutely idiotic … it has no detail," she told Sky News.

"They had nine years – nine years between them the Liberal and National parties – and they’ve done absolutely nothing [on Indigenous recognition] and you want to trust Peter Dutton to do this? Please, Australians."

The idea to acknowledge Indigenous history in the constitution has a long history going back decades and has been at the centre of multiple consultations with First Nations people.

READ MORE:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-04/peter-dutton-second-referendum-proposal-reactions/102812014

*Terra nullius—meaning land belonging to no-one—was the legal concept used by the British government to justify the settlement of Australia.

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