Daniel Andrews has warned of the shared “cost of failure” should the Voice Referendum falter, addressing the packed Victorian Labor Conference on Saturday.

Joined by Anthony Albanese, the Premier urged Victorians to invest in hope over hate, instead of “marinating in the confected outrage of imported culture wars”.

“Far too often we’ve had a history of not listening — that needs to change, and it needs to change this year.”

The Premier went on to say previous and current programs were “not working”, and that better outcomes would be achieved through Indigenous-led organisations.

“Huge sums of money are spent on programs that aren’t about listening to First Nations communities,” he said.

“First Nations Australians already know what’s best for their families, for their communities, for their culture.

“They just need governments to hear them, not to tell them how it’s going to be.”

Mr Andrews also took a swipe at the Liberal Party for portraying the Referendum as an “act of division”.

“Unity comes not from ignoring difference, but from embracing it,” he said.

“Strength lies in not being afraid to face uncomfortable truths.

“It’s only by accepting our nation in all its flaws that we can have any hope of bettering it.”

The Premier said the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians needed to be rebuilt, applying the same foundational principle of “listening” to health, education, justice, employment and housing.

“(Our history) has been in many ways, a history of injustice, of dispossession and removal of children,” he said.

“Change won’t happen if we wait for some other time because the Voice isn’t just about Aboriginal people.”

The Premier said the referendum possessed the power to “heal our country” and called on Labor members to throw their weight behind the Voice campaign.

Mr Andrews also spoke of increased funding for research and treatment of endometriosis and women’s pain management, unveiling plans for an Aboriginal-led women’s health clinic.

Sanitary products such as pads and tampons will also be available for free across the state’s public spaces.

“Something our political opponents derided and criticised,” he said.

“(This will) help normalise periods … and to make sure no one gets caught out without the products they need.”

Daniel Andrews has warned of the shared “cost of failure” should the Voice Referendum falter, addressing the packed Victorian Labor Conference on Saturday.

Joined by Anthony Albanese, the Premier urged Victorians to invest in hope over hate, instead of “marinating in the confected outrage of imported culture wars”.

“Far too often we’ve had a history of not listening — that needs to change, and it needs to change this year.”

The Premier went on to say previous and current programs were “not working”, and that better outcomes would be achieved through Indigenous-led organisations.

“Huge sums of money are spent on programs that aren’t about listening to First Nations communities,” he said.

“First Nations Australians already know what’s best for their families, for their communities, for their culture.

“They just need governments to hear them, not to tell them how it’s going to be.”

Mr Andrews also took a swipe at the Liberal Party for portraying the Referendum as an “act of division”.

“Unity comes not from ignoring difference, but from embracing it,” he said.

“Strength lies in not being afraid to face uncomfortable truths.

“It’s only by accepting our nation in all its flaws that we can have any hope of bettering it.”

The Premier said the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians needed to be rebuilt, applying the same foundational principle of “listening” to health, education, justice, employment and housing.

“(Our history) has been in many ways, a history of injustice, of dispossession and removal of children,” he said.

“Change won’t happen if we wait for some other time because the Voice isn’t just about Aboriginal people.”

The Premier said the referendum possessed the power to “heal our country” and called on Labor members to throw their weight behind the Voice campaign.

Mr Andrews also spoke of increased funding for research and treatment of endometriosis and women’s pain management, unveiling plans for an Aboriginal-led women’s health clinic.

Sanitary products such as pads and tampons will also be available for free across the state’s public spaces.

“Something our political opponents derided and criticised,” he said.

“(This will) help normalise periods … and to make sure no one gets caught out without the products they need.”