Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce referendum date ‘within the next two weeks’

The Voice to Parliament referendum date is expected to be revealed within the next fortnight – as support for the bill continues to struggle in the polls. 

The federal government is preparing to make an announcement on the date before parliament reconvenes on September 4.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed at Labor’s 49th national conference in Brisbane over the weekend that Australians will vote for constitutional recognition and the establishment of an advisory body sometime in October or November.

He added at the conference that the government would have to consult with cabinet and the Australian Electoral Commission before announcing a date. 

Voice architect Noel Pearson also flagged a weekend in October or November for the referendum during a Yes23 campaign event in Sydney last month.

‘Our constitution says once you get it out of the hands of the politicians, you’ve got to have the referendum no later than six months no earlier than two months from that date,’ he said.

‘So that means (October to November) will be the last opportunity to have the referendum and I’m sure the government will announce one of those weekends.’

It comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton slammed the prime minister of ‘playing games with the date’ and not being upfront with the public. 

‘Frankly, he should stop being tricky and he should come out and announce the date and let the people have their say,’ he said, as reported in The West Australian. 

Deputy Leader Sussan Ley claimed the delay in the announcement of the date is ‘symbolic of the Prime Minister’s entire approach to the Voice’.

‘He says he wants to change the country; we’re just not allowed to know either how or when,’ she said. 

The Yes camp is anticipated to ramp up campaigning for the Voice over the coming weeks as polls show support amongst the public continues to dip.

A RedBridge survey taken earlier this month found the No campaign with a huge 56-44 lead over the Yes side.

This comes as a Guardian Essential Poll had the No side at 47 per cent and Yes at 43 per cent.

The Yes side now trails the No side in every state and territory – to pass, four of the six states would have to vote Yes, as well as winning the overall national vote (pictured L-R, Warren Mundine, Michaelia Cash, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Kerrynne Liddle)

The Yes side now trails the No side in every state and territory – to pass, four of the six states would have to vote Yes, as well as winning the overall national vote. 

Both polls are an indicator that people’s views are hardening as it’s the first time people have been surveyed since the launch of campaign information pamphlets by both camps in July. 

The push to change the constitution has also revealed income and education divides – the more educated or well off a person is, the more likely they are to support Yes.

Two-thirds of people with a Year 12 and TAFE education plan to vote No, while 56 per cent of degree holders support Yes, the poll, carried out for News Corp, found.

Similarly, two-thirds of people with annual household incomes below $50,000 a year also plan to vote No.

The Voice is even more unpopular with Protestants and voters aged over 65 – around 75 per cent in each category planning to vote No.

Other groups supporting the Voice are those aged 18-34 (63 per cent in favour) and those speaking a language other than English at home (59 per cent backing Yes