Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (15:18): I thank the member for his question, and I thank him for the work that he's done over a long period of time in supporting a Voice to this parliament, including on the committee of which he was the joint chair along with Senator Patrick Dodson, a great Australian. I have read that report. It's a substantial contribution. The committee was established by the former government, but in a bipartisan way, as a result of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, which was itself, as you are aware, the end of a five-year process of consultation. After that report, of course, Calma and Langton produced their report. The member wasn't a member of the former cabinet, but we know from Ken Wyatt, who has my utmost respect—the former minister for Indigenous affairs in this place, who had the great honour of being the first Aboriginal Australian to hold that position—that it did go to the cabinet not once but twice previously. I have read that report. It's a substantial report. It indicates the principles that had been established then by the Referendum Working Group, which, as the member would be aware, has outlined eight principles going forward as well. I would point this out: in terms of the process or way that constitutional change occurs, the Constitution outlines the principle, as the member would be aware—and I'd encourage him to read Justice French's contribution on the Constitution. But the member is a participant, not an observer. This is not the government's idea; this is an idea that has come from the bottom up, that the former government was responsible for. Let me say this: in March, legislation will be introduced— Opposition members interjecting— Mr ALBANESE: Do they want to listen? The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Groom is on a warning, and others will shortly follow if this unacceptable noise continues. I give the call back to the Prime Minister. Mr ALBANESE: In March, legislation will be introduced to this parliament. Then a committee will be established—and I am open to the form of that committee. I want to maximise support for this referendum. I'm not here to say, 'This is the government's position; take it or leave it.' I want to engage genuinely. I have met with the Leader of the Opposition on no fewer than six occasions. Ms Catherine King interjecting— The SPEAKER: The minister for infrastructure! Mr ALBANESE: This is not for the government. This is for the people of Australia. An opposition member interjecting— Ms Catherine King: This is not normal legislation. You're an idiot! The SPEAKER: I will hear from the member for Wannon. Mr Tehan: The member for Ballarat made a very unparliamentary remark and she should withdraw. The SPEAKER: To assist the House, I call the member for Ballarat. Ms Catherine King: I withdraw. The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister has the call. Mr ALBANESE: (Extension of time granted) I say this to everyone in the chamber. In March, when the legislation is introduced, we will have a committee process. It won't be a government process; it will be a process of this parliament. I want the coalition to participate in it. I want the crossbench to participate in it. I want to maximise support for this. I make an offer here to the opposition to participate in that process in goodwill. Mr Pike interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Bowman is warned. Mr ALBANESE: Part of that will be the development of further detail beyond the principles that have been established by the referendum working group. Then, if the referendum is successful, there will be a process in which, again, I will seek as much bipartisanship as possible. The goodwill that's been shown by the government—for example, members of the opposition, including some who are now in this chamber, approached government members who were working on the committee about the referendum structure—not the second bill but the first bill now before the Senate—and said that, for them, the publication of a booklet was important and would make a difference. So we agreed. I was approached last week. I spoke with the minister, Senator Farrell. I spoke with the minister for indigenous affairs, and we conveyed very clearly, our support for that. That wasn't our starting position, but this process cannot be one of Labor versus Liberal. We have to rise above this, and I respect the fact— Mr Taylor interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hume! If there is one more interjection, people will leave the chamber. I give the call to the Prime Minister. Mr ALBANESE: I ask those opposite to join me in having an open mind but importantly an open heart when it comes to these issues. My colleague the minister just spoke about how Australians who had supported this change would feel the day after a referendum if it's successful. I ask you to think about the counterfactual as well—how Indigenous Australians will feel if it's not successful, how Australians will feel and how Australia is perceived internationally, including by our economic partners in the region. This is a major issue. I cannot do more than stand here, in this parliament, and offer a genuine engagement in order to achieve a positive outcome. I think there are people of good will in faith groups, in sporting organisations, in the business community and in civil society groups but, most importantly, among Indigenous Australians themselves who want this change and have waited a long time. And I say this: if we do not recognise Indigenous Australians in our Constitution this year, when will we? When will we? The SPEAKER: I'll call the Leader of the Opposition on indulgence, but I'll be listening carefully to what he says.