Voice vote should be ‘earlier rather than later’: Malarndirri McCarthy

Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy is pushing for an earlier date for the Voice referendum to cope with the Northern Territory’s wet season.

The senator for the NT says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make the final call on the date, but dismissed the possibility that it would be delayed, saying he was “deeply committed” to the Voice and listening to First Nations people.

Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy says the Voice referendum should happen “earlier rather than later” to take into account the Northern Territory’s disruptive summer weather.Credit: Rhett Wyman

“My understanding is the prime minister is still looking at October. Ultimately, it is a call for the prime minister. He will call it for when he thinks it is the right time to call it,” she told this masthead.

“I’ll certainly be encouraging the prime minister to go earlier rather than later because it is much better logistically for those of us in the north. I’m sure people in the southern parts are also putting in their own bids as well, so good luck to the prime minister for deciding on a date, is all I can say.

“For us, in the Northern Territory and other regional places in the north, we know that we need at least that two to three weeks’ mobile polling to get out, and any closer for us in the wet season is not good.”

McCarthy said the community had a “quiet expectation” that the Labor government will proceed with the national ballot this year.

“Our country has always known we were going towards this referendum … and I think the Australian people will vote the way they feel they need to vote, and we’ll know by the end of the year what 2024 looks like, and I think that is important,” she said.

National Party leader David Littleproud told the media on Monday he would be open to considering an alternate Voice proposal if the government was to delay the referendum. His comments followed those of NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, who last week urged Albanese to push the national poll back until mid-2024.

Rejecting the calls, McCarthy said she agrees with Voice model co-architect Tom Calma, who said the referendum needed to go ahead this year.

McCarthy said support for the Voice in communities around Australia remained strong and was not reflected in recent polling that indicated a decline in the percentage of people likely to vote Yes in a forthcoming election.

Voice model co-architect Tom Calma says the referendum needs to go ahead this year.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“Everywhere I’ve been travelling has been incredibly warm and receptive. People are just keen to talk about the referendum. They’re keen to hear why it’s important.

“I’m out on the ground, all the time, every day, and it’s not the world I am seeing, and not the world that is receiving me as I travel. I am humbly overwhelmed by the generosity of the people that want to know what they can do to get this through,” she said.

McCarthy has met with community groups in Echuca, Shepparton and Narre Warren about the Indigenous Voice, and meeting with the state’s Aboriginal medical services and community health sector.

The assistant minister for Indigenous Health and Indigenous Australians said she was specifically interested in examining food security within Aboriginal hostels and health and well-being services. McCarthy said she is also looking at the provision of health services within Victoria’s correctional system.

“I’m looking at pushing for more culturally appropriate health services in prisons across the country. I’m really concerned about Victoria’s correctional system, so I’m watching it very closely,” McCarthy said.

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