Labor holds talks about early work on truth and treaty as Voice is touch and go

Labor has held early discussions on its preparations to begin work on treaty and truth-telling, even as the fate of its Voice to Parliament referendum hangs in the balance. 

The government is understood to be preparing for work on a Makarrata commission, after Treasurer Jim Chalmers set aside $5.8 million in Labor’s October 2022 budget. 

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has begun early discussions about the commission with Greens Senator Dorinda Cox, the party’s new First Nations spokesperson, who told Crikey the conversations last week had been “constructive”.

Burney’s office offered sparse context on the government’s plans, saying its election commitments remain unchanged and that the budget accommodates early work on a Makarrata commission.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised voters when he was elected last year that his government would implement the Uluru Statement in full. Labor’s policy promises to develop a national framework for treaty-making that accommodates state and territory processes. 

The move could soothe tensions between the government and critics who would prefer to see truth and treaty come before Voice, signalling Labor’s confidence in a referendum win — likely to be held between October and December.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, an outspoken proponent of reordering the Uluru Statement to prioritise truth and treaty before a Voice to Parliament, has yet to receive an invitation to discussions. 

While Albanese was in the Western Australian town of Port Hedland for a federal cabinet meeting this week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and opposition spokesman on Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser were drumming up concerns over the government’s “failure” to address regional “issues about violence, health and safety” across the state. 

Leeser hasn’t been brought in on discussions about the government’s early work on the Makarrata commission either, which sources claimed symbolises the absence of “proper processes” around the government’s handling of the Voice so far. 

“At the same time, the prime minister’s signature policy of an Indigenous Voice is languishing because of his unorthodox approach with no detail and no proper process to bring Australians with him,” Leeser said.

“And now he is talking about treaties.”