Anthony Albanese has recommitted to Makarrata – coming together after conflict – but deflected questions about the way forward for reconciliation, citing Indigenous leaders’ wish for a week of silence to grieve the referendum result.
As parliament resumed on Monday, Albanese said he respected the decision not to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution, but added that the principles of “listening to people and getting better outcomes” on which the referendum was based will “continue to guide” him.
The Coalition used question time to attempt to personally blame the prime minister for a “divisive” campaign in which the opposition drove much of the no vote.
Albanese said he accepted “responsibility for the decisions that I have taken” but explained that no referendum had passed “without bipartisan support”.
Labor wants to reopen dialogue with First Nations leaders about closing the gap and rebooting reconciliation, but also used question time to reject claims – including some from within its own ranks – that it has lost focus on cost of living.
When the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, claimed Australians are “questioning the competence of this prime minister” after the $450m referendum, Albanese responded with his government’s achievements, including passage of its signature housing bill, the employment white paper, energy transition, and securing the release of Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei.
Albanese revealed national cabinet will meet on Monday evening “to progress the next stage in our new national skills agreements”.
On the voice referendum, Albanese said that although “Australians did not accept the constitutional change that was proposed” it is also clear that “no one is arguing for the status quo”.
“No one can say that just keep on doing the same thing is good enough for Australia,” he said.
“I will continue to listen to people and communities and consult on Indigenous Australians about a way forward.
“Because the issues that we sought to address have not gone away, and nor have the people of goodwill and good heart who want to address them.”
Albanese noted that Indigenous communities had overwhelmingly voted for the voice and explained he had proceeded with the referendum because he wanted to give Indigenous Australians “agency” and “to accept the invitation that they offered”.
“I believe that when you make a commitment, including a commitment to Indigenous people, that it should be fulfilled.”
Asked if he still supports the other commitments in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Makarrata truth-telling, and treaty, Albanese replied he is “committed to … respecting what Indigenous people have said”. The Uluru Statement calls for a Makarrata commission “to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling”.
“And what they have said is that they are undertaking a week – which is reasonable for them – to deal with what” many people would recognise is a “difficult time” for Indigenous people, he said. “I think that should be respected.”
Albanese said that Makaratta means “coming together after struggle” in Yolngu. “I think it’s a good thing that people come together.”
Albanese attacked the fact that Dutton had walked away from commitments he gave before the referendum vote for a second referendum on constitutional recognition.
Earlier on Monday Dutton told reporters that “the Australian public is probably over the referendum process for some time” and the Coalition policy would be reviewed.
Albanese told the House of Representatives that Dutton “has now taken the next step, he is now opposing himself”.
“He never actually sticks to a commitment, which is why he doesn’t recognise conviction when he sees it in someone else.”
Albanese also targeted the Coalition’s record after its election in 2013, including cutting a $777m national partnership agreements on Closing the Gap in Indigenous health while Dutton was health minister.
Dutton sought leave to move a motion calling on Albanese to set up a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities and audit spending on Indigenous programs.
The motion also proposed to note that the House of Representatives “is of the opinion that all Australians deserve the very best of what our nation has to offer and the differences of opinion do not diminish our love for our country or regard for each other”.
The leader of the house, Tony Burke, deferred debate until later on Monday afternoon.
Scott Morrison described Albanese’s pursuit of the voice model as an “elitist indulgence”.
The former prime minister told Sky News on Monday evening that his government wished to pursue constitutional recognition but could not reach a consensus on a proposal that would achieve broad-based support.
“This referendum was rejected on the basis that Australians wanted us to be united, not two separate countries,” Morrison said.
“The idea that we would now entertain treaties and things of that nature, I think is just absurd.”
