Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has challenged Linda Burney to a debate over the Voice to parliament referendum.
Although the vote itself is still months away – to be held sometime between October and December – the official Yes and No cases become available online on Tuesday, signalling a ramping up in campaigning.
On the back of a new poll revealing support for the Voice has plummeted, and an admission from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the Yes case needs to up its game, Senator Price has now challenged her counterpart to a debate to help Australians better understand what is being proposed.
Asked by 2GB’s Ben Fordham at the end of an interview on Tuesday morning if she would be happy to debate a “yes” campaigner like Ms Burney, Thomas Mayo or Dean Parkin for 30 minutes, the coalition’s spokesperson for Indigenous Australians jumped at the chance.
“As shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, I would certainly expect the Minister might take the opportunity to debate me on this very issue,” she said.
“I’d be very happy to do that.”
Fordham said he would put a request in to Ms Burney’s office, who NCA NewsWire has contacted for comment.
The official essays published online by the Australian Electoral Commission will be distributed to households across the country closer to voting day in the form of brochures.
Speaking about the official No case, compiled by MPs and senators and led by her as chair of the committee, Senator Price said Australians needed more detail.
“Australians want to know how this Voice will work, how it’s supposed to deliver these wonderful outcomes it claims it will deliver, who will be appointed,” she said.
“It looks like they’re just leaving it up to communities.
“It’s just a dog’s breakfast.”
Earlier, her predecessor, Julian Leeser – who quit the shadow frontbench and his shadow portfolio responsibilities to vote in favour of the Voice, told ABC Radio he was “proud” to put his signature to the Yes case.
The official Yes pamphlet, which includes endorsements from Indigenous sporting legends Johnathan Thurston, Eddie Betts and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, says voting Yes will ensure a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and will make a positive difference.
Mr Leeser said the Voice would be a “safe change”.
“Right from the beginning of my participation in this debate, I’ve called for a higher standard of debate and I’ve said we should focus on issues of people,” he said.
“I was proud to put my signature to the use case. The yes case provides a positive reason for voting … It speaks to the practical results from change.
“It explains why recognition makes a difference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But it’s a safe change. It’s a change supported by people from all sides of politics.
I’m worried that we’ll get distracted. I mean, this is simply about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution.”