'It is time for recognition': parliament debates voice

KEY QUOTES FROM THE DEBATE

* "A 'yes' vote in this referendum is a chance for all of us to take the next step on the journey of reconciliation, to be counted and to be heard on the right side of history." - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

* "If the government wants you to vote on a voice not knowing what it is or what it can do, the approach is a reckless roll of the dice." - Opposition Leader Peter Dutton

* "In 2023, it is time for recognition. It's time for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to the parliament, because (they) have not enjoyed the same opportunities of so many other Australians." - Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney

* "The voice is advisory - it won't be Moses handing down tablets from the mountain. The parliament will still be the democratic centre of our democratic life." - Liberal MP Julian Leeser

* "It will create another taxpayer-funded level of bureaucracy in Canberra. A nation needs a better bureaucracy, not a bigger one." - Nationals leader David Littleproud

* "The Greens want to see the voice succeed not only because it is a key element of the Uluru statement, but because failure will take us further away from truth and treaty." - Greens leader Adam Bandt

* "Giving our people a real voice now is the least that this country can do to make good the wrong that has existed at the heart of our founding document." - Indigenous Labor MP Marion Scrymgour

* "The impact of the voice on the operations of executive government and the parliament are also not known, presenting significant and unknown risks that cannot be easily remedied." - former prime minister Scott Morrison

* "The committee process we've just been through has been very useful in exposing some of the baseless fearmongering and outlandish statements that have accompanied some of the commentary on the voice." - Independent MP Andrew Gee

* The government's Canberra voice does not provide any practical solutions that will address the issues Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are facing." - Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor