Dutton’s office declined to comment.
The opposition leader said in Parliament on May 22 that the Voice would have an “Orwellian effect” where some Australians are more equal than others.
“The Voice, as proposed by the Prime Minister, promotes difference. And it’s, sadly, a symptom of the madness of identity politics which has infected the 21st century,” Dutton said.
“The Voice will re-racialise our nation. At a time when we need to unite the country, this prime minister’s proposal will permanently divide us by race.”
Pearson asked how anyone could argue the Voice would elevate Indigenous people to a privileged position given the issues confronting Indigenous people in places like Yuendumu, Cooktown, Aurukun and Alice Springs.
“If you’ve seen any blackfellas on the streets there – would you say they are more equal than other Australians? Who could sustain an argument like that?
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“Would you say [Indigenous people there] are more equal than other Australians?”
Pearson said it was crucial that the Voice be established to address issues for local communities and engage with Commonwealth legislators.
“It’s got to work at the local level [to] enable those communities to sit down with the Commonwealth government and hopefully with the state government and make deals about the football oval, the housing situation, the children not attending school.”