A referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament will be held between October and December, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
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The prime minister is visiting Western Australia this week with his cabinet as the "yes" campaign for the voice kicked off a week of action to start drumming up support.
Mr Albanese told a local radio station the referendum would be held "sometime between late September and December".
But he confirmed it would not be on AFL grand final day, which is the last Saturday in September.
October has a lot of resonance, being the month that Uluru was returned to traditional owners in 1985 and that the Racial Discrimination Act took effect in 1975.
Speaking from Port Hedland before his cabinet meeting, Mr Albanese defended the voice's ability to improve the lives of Indigenous people.
"We know that when you consult any group of people about matters that affect them, you will get better outcomes," he said.
"That is what the voice is."
In a separate interview, the prime minister told ABC Radio he was very hopeful the referendum would result in a "yes" vote for Indigenous recognition in the constitution.
"I'm really heartened by the week of action starting this week, there's activity right around the regions, right around the nation," he said.
"It will be important to give respect to Aboriginal Australians but also for us to acknowledge the great privilege we have of sharing this continent with them."
The prime minister said a successful referendum would change the way Australia was perceived globally and show the nation was mature and had "come to terms" with its history.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney is expected to introduce legislation required for the vote to parliament in March.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who is also in WA, said the coalition had been "constructively engaging" in discussions on the voice.
But he said the prime minister needed to be clearer about how it would work in practical terms.
"I think in their hearts Australians have a desire to see better outcomes for Indigenous people," he said.
"But ... how would (the voice) improve the outcomes to the lives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in regional and remote areas?"
Australian Associated Press
