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AAP
AAP
Politics
Andrew Brown

Liberal senator lays new case for Indigenous voice

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg says the voice isn't a Labor project, it's an Australian project. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A Liberal senator has ramped up efforts to push for an Indigenous voice to parliament in what he describes as an effort to combat misinformation about the proposal.

In a new paper, NSW senator Andrew Bragg said the voice would be the country's best shot at reconciliation efforts and a contribution to the nation.

"This is not a "woke" agenda, it's not identity politics and it isn't a separatist agenda which denigrates Australians," he said.

"This isn't a Labor project. It's an Australian project."

The release of the paper in support of the voice comes as the Liberals debate the party's formal position on the upcoming referendum.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has met with working groups on it, with further meetings expected, but has called for more detail on the proposal.

Senator Bragg has called for the government to release a draft bill so more people can understand how the voice would operate.

He told ABC Radio on Wednesday such a bill would offer the best chance of bipartisanship.

"We want to have bipartisanship here. This referendum will not be successful unless a large group of coalition voters vote yes," he said.

"These are technical points but we want to try and maximise opportunities for bipartisanship here."

Senator Bragg said misinformation about the voice was harming its agenda and attempts at reconciliation.

"At the end of the day, the voice is about getting community level decisions made about service delivery and that's a very conservative and liberal notion," he said.

The referendum is set to be held in the second half of the year, with the exact wording of the question and constitutional changes to be finalised by June at the latest.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he did not take a 'yes' vote in the referendum for granted.

"We can strengthen our economy and strengthen our society at the same time. I think those objectives are complementary, not at odds," he told ABC Radio.

"An important part of strengthening our economy is dealing with entrenched disadvantage in communities and the voice is about giving people a say in the issues that affect their communities."

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