Australians urged to back plan to give Indigenous people a say

Australians will be asked to recognise the first peoples of the nation in a referendum this year, after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, published the final wording of a constitutional amendment.

- Josh Butler

In an emotional press conference, featuring personal reflections from the Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders, Albanese wiped away tears as he implored voters and the opposition to back the referendum. "This is a modest request. I say to Australia, don't miss it," he said.

The amendment, in a new chapter in the constitution, would establish a body known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The advisory body would be able to make representations to the parliament and the "executive government".

After two days of negotiations in Canberra, Albanese and the government accepted the strong advice of its working group of Indigenous leaders to retain the advisory body's power to advise the executive government, including the cabinet and the public service, despite concerns raised by a small number of conservative critics who fear it smacks of "co-governance".