Anthony Albanese has cast his vote for an Indigenous voice to parliament and said Australians have “nothing to fear from voting yes, but everything to gain”.
After visiting an early voting centre in Marrickville with his son Nathan by his side, the prime minister also hit back at Tony Abbott and John Howard, who on Saturday claimed the voice would not improve outcomes for Indigenous people in central Australia.
Speaking to media in his home electorate of Grayndler, Albanese said Australians had an opportunity to make history by taking the “once in a generation chance” to recognise Australia’s first peoples in the constitution and to establish a voice to advise parliament and government on matters that affect Indigenous Australians.
“There is nothing to fear from voting yes, but everything to gain,” he said. “Because those two simple changes, recognition and the opportunity to listen through a non-binding advisory committee will make the greatest country on Earth that much greater.
“We have this opportunity before us. It may not come around for a very long time again.”
The prime minister said he believed Australians were optimistic and hopeful. “I know that no nation has been lifted up through fear. What lifts a nation up is hope and optimism and a vision for the future moving forward,” he said.
“And that’s what Australians have the opportunity to do in the next seven days.”
He also hit back at comments by former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, who on Saturday claimed a voice to parliament would not make a practical difference for Indigenous Australians living in central Australia.
Abbott claimed central Australia “basically resembles a failed state” in an interview with the newspaper the Australian, published on Saturday.
“The Howard government said that the apology for stolen generations would create all these negative repercussions,” he said. “That’s why they couldn’t give an apology.
“So I’m not going to take lectures from John Howard who was in office for 12 years, and Tony Abbott, who was the prime minister of this nation as well [who] cut funding for Indigenous programs in his 2014 budget. And they’re on the front page of the paper today lecturing about a way forward?”
Later on Saturday, Albanese joined Blake Solly, the chief executive of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, as Solly announced the NRL club’s official support for a voice to parliament.
Solly said the board and management of the Rabbitohs and Souths Cares had reached a decision to support the voice and recognition of First Nations people in the constitution after consulting players and staff.
“We hope that this change to the constitution will ensure that progress is achieved where it is most needed,” he said. “This is an important moment in the history of our nation.
“And we strongly encourage our members and supporters to gather more information to form their own position on this referendum.”
Albanese visited Queensland on Friday and said he would visit every other state and territory over the next week before the referendum date on next Saturday.