Will the Voice violate the fundamental principle of liberal democracies where all citizens have equal rights and obligations?

No. All liberal democracies accept the need to make allowance for relevant difference in public policy. The important difference here is that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia's First Peoples. They have their own laws and customs, and they face distinct challenges. The proposed referendum would give them a Voice to improve the quality of Australian government in relation to them.

Professor Cheryl Saunders