The Project’s Carrie Bickmore quizzes Anthony Albanese over Indigenous Voice referendum

Anthony Albanese has hit back at suggestions Australians will vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum without knowing how it will work by describing it as a ‘pretty simple proposition’ and ‘good manners’.

Debate has raged after the Prime Minister proposed a referendum on recognising Indigenous people in the constitution and requiring consultation with them on decisions that impact their lives.

The proposed referendum has sparked more questions than answers since it was unveiled in a landmark announcement on Saturday.

 It comes as one of Australia’s leading universities introduces a mandatory Aboriginal module that students must complete before they graduate.

Mr Albanese copped an intense grilling on his controversial referendum when he appeared on The Project on Monday night.

‘How do you expect people to vote on changing the constitution without knowing how it’s going to work?’ co-host Carrie Bickmore asked.

Mr Albanese is adamant people will know how it will work when they vote and that it will lead to better outcomes for the indigenous.

‘Well, of course they will know how it works but he truth is that it is a pretty simple proposition,’ he said.

‘The proposition is where matters affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, then those people, the First Nations people should be consulted on it.

‘This is not a third chamber, it is simply good manners. 

He added the Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be no different to consulting women’s organisations to have an impact on women.

‘The thing is that if you consult people, if you give them that sense of ownership, you’re likely get more positive outcomes,’ Mr Albanese continued.

‘We know that from 120 years of experience of Canberra spending billions of dollars on not achieving the right outcomes if indigenous people are excluded from that process.’

The Project’s Peter Hellier pointed out there are divided opinions within Aboriginal communities of how Indigenous Voice to Parliament should take place and asked how the government would manage disagreement within groups.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) described the Indigenous Voice to Parliament as an opportunity to uplift the nation

The Prime Minister acknowledged the challenge but argued differing views within indigenous groups is no different to Collingwood AFL supporters being divided on who would be in their team next weekend. 

‘The idea that this is a homogeneous group isn’t right,’ Mr Albanese said.

‘People spent years leading up to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017 and Indigenous communities overwhelmingly want this process to go forward.

‘Hundreds of pages of detail have been worked through, they are all out there for people to see.’

‘Australia’s birth certificate, the constitution should recognise the fact that people have been here for 60,000 years, the oldest continuous civilisation on Earth and that should be a source of pride. Our history didn’t begin and end either in 1788.’

Mr Albanese rejected Steve Price’s suggestion Opposition Leader Peter Dutton may  ‘blow up’ the proposal and says he discussed the plan with his leadership rival before it was announced

Another conversation with Mr Dutton is expected to take place this week.

‘I think that people of goodwill need to be constructive here. This is an opportunity to uplift the nation,’ Mr Albanese.

‘It is very important that this be a unifying moment for the nation. This should be a source of pride and we need to do things differently.

Melbourne’s Monash University introduced the mandatory indigenous module last month

Meanwhile, a major university has introduced a brand new Indigenous Australian Voices module which students must complete before they can graduate.

Melbourne’s Monash University introduced the mandatory module last month and has given students by week two of the second semester to complete it.

Failure to meet the deadline will result in students’ access to the library, the university’s learning management system and their academic record or results being cut off.

They will also be unable to sit eExams or graduate. 

‘If you don’t complete compulsory modules by the deadline, you will be encumbered,’ the university warned.

Staff must also undertake the new module designed to ‘ensure students fully understand Monash values’.

You will be introduced to the rich and complex histories of First Nations Peoples and the lands on which we study, work and live.

We hope that by completing this module, it will be the beginning of your desire to learn more, and to contribute to a society that respects Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, cultures and knowledges, and works towards addressing the legacies of the past.

The Prime Minister announced his proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum at the Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land on Saturday