Australia politics live: parliament returns for 2023 with questions outstanding over Indigenous voice

First sitting week begins after a summer of political debate about the voice, gas, Medicare and capitalism. Follow the day’s news live

Asked three times if the voice to parliament should also advise national cabinet, as suggested by Labor senator Pat Dodson, Penny Wong avoids the question.

Q: The big issue, one of the big issues, of course, is going to be the proposed Voice to Parliament referendum. Your colleague, Senator Pat Dodson, Labor’s Envoy for Reconciliation, reckons the Voice - should it happen - should have a role in advising National Cabinet as well as parliament. Is that part of the plan?

Let’s go back to first principles. What is the Voice? The Voice is constitutional recognition of our First Nations people to ensure they have a say. I think it’s a pretty good thing for people to have a say in matters that affect them. It’s one of the ways that we can ensure we improve not only our nation, but also the aspirations and opportunities for our First Nations peoples. I was really pleased to see, while I was away, that all First Ministers, Liberal and Labor, have backed in the Voice. It shows what you can do when you take the politics out of it.

I think the Voice will have a say in matters that affect First Nations people. But I think the point here is - why are some people so concerned about that?

Well, do you think people having a say is a problem, Michael? (the host)

That’s the implication in your question. I mean, we have years of disadvantage, years of... ..so many broken hopes. And we can be so much stronger as a nation. We can become much more unified. And the First Ministers, Premiers and Chief Ministers have demonstrated that. We want to walk down this path together. It’s not about “gotcha” moments. It’s not about tricky questions and answers. It’s about the nation coming together and saying, “Yes, we will take the outstretched hand which is the Uluru Statement from the Heart.” “We will recognise our First Nations people. We will give them a say. And we will work through the detail of that together.” And that’s a good thing.