Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defied a final minute bid from Peter Dutton to cancel or amend the Voice to Parliament referendum on the day postal vote functions open.
Just hours earlier than the writs have been signed – the ultimate bureaucratic hurdle earlier than Australians head to the polls on October 14 – Mr Albanese rebuffed accusations from the Opposition Leader that he had “completely mishandled” the Voice proposal.
During Question Time, Mr Dutton requested Mr Albanese to “withdraw his Voice referendum, so we can avoid an outcome which sets back reconciliation and divides the nation”.
With help for the Voice plummeting in all opinion polls, Mr Dutton informed Mr Albanese “it is clear the referendum will not be the moment of unity the 1967 referendum delivered”.
But the Prime Minister vowed to stay to the timetable to ship Australians to the polls on October 14.
His message got here simply hours earlier than the writs have been signed by the Governor-General, and the 6pm opening of postal vote functions.
Mr Albanese replied: “It is unfortunate the Leader of the Opposition has chosen politics over substance”.
“The referendum will take place on that date, and Australians will get to determine their view on that date,” Mr Albanese mentioned.
“The leader of the opposition of course has since committed, if he’s ever elected Prime Minister, to have another referendum if this referendum is defeated. So he wants this debate to just go on and on.”
Australians have till Monday, September 18 at 8pm to enrol to vote within the referendum.
Postal vote functions are open till Wednesday, October 11.
Remote voter providers will begin on Monday, September 25.
Early voting will start within the Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria and WA on Monday, October 2; with different state and territories to comply with go well with on Tuesday, October 3.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
