Australia politics live: Dutton lags in Aston byelection polling; health minister announces new Covid measures

Key events

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, spoke to 2GB Radio earlier this morning, and was asked about his comments to the Coalition party room about the Aston byelection being made more difficult by talking about themselves.

Asked if this was a reference to John Pesutto’s attempt to expel Moira Deeming, Dutton agreed that “it’s frustrating because we have a great candidate in Roshena Campbell”, who he described as a strong person, a barrister and a mother of three.

He said:

This is an opportunity to elect a good representative. The’re not going to change the government in a byelection. It’s a chance to send the government a message. One of the first things they did in government was to cut road funding [in Aston] … We should be talking about those issues, not other issues. I think Roshena has done a great job on the ground. Byelections are always close. The government is in its honeymoon. The propaganda and lies they’re telling down there [are] outrageous. That’s what they do … Pensioners are hurting, they’re paying $19,000 more on their mortgages.

Updated at 22.52 EDT

Aston byelection poll negative for Dutton

Internal Labor polling for the Aston byelection has somehow found its way into the hands of Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell and you will be absolutely completely SHOCKED to learn that it’s negative for Peter Dutton.

Clennell reports:

The poll found just 21% of people had a favourable view of Mr Dutton, 50% were unfavourable with 24% unsure and 5% having never heard of him.

The federal Liberal leader has been quieter than a teenage Amy sneaking back into the house after missing curfew this last week in the parliament. He has been pretty silent during question time, hasn’t held press conferences, has kept media to a minimum and didn’t attend the chamber when the voice constitutional amendment was being introduced.

All signs point to it being a consequence of the Aston byelection. A government hasn’t won a byelection off an opposition for more than a century. Labor is unlikely to win Saturday, but that it looks to be in the race is enough to spook the Liberal party, particularly after the loss of the NSW state election last week.

If the Liberals don’t win the seat by the usual byelection margin (5-6%) it is not going to be overly comfortable for Dutton, who barely campaigned in the NSW election.

If you can’t win Victoria and you can’t win NSW, then you can’t win a federal election. It is as simple as that.

Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at 20.43 EDT

Who was – and wasn’t – present for the introduction of the Indigenous voice referendum bill?

The government benches were full as attorney general Mark Dreyfus introduced the constitutional alteration bill to advance the Indigenous voice – but it was a different story on the opposition side, with little more than a dozen Coalition MPs initially in the chamber.

More filtered in as Dreyfus gave his speech, with about 25 by the end – but that number did not include either opposition leader Peter Dutton or deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Nationals leader David Littleproud was in the room, as was shadow Indigenous Australians minister and shadow attorney general Julian Leeser.

On the other side, the government made room on their frontbench for Indigenous MPs Gordon Reid and Marion Scrymgour, who normally sit a few rows further back. Also watching from the side were senators Malarndirri McCarthy, Jana Stewart and Nita Green.

As Dreyfus finished his speech, there was a loud round of applause and a standing ovation from the Labor benches and much of the crossbench. He and Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney were approached by most of their caucus for hugs and handshakes.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese, also clapping, pointed up to the public gallery to acknowledge members of the government’s referendum working group and other Indigenous leaders, who were watching the bill’s introduction.

From our vantage point in the press gallery section of the chamber, we could only see one Coalition MP – Russell Broadbent – clapping the bill’s introduction after Dreyfus’ speech.

Dreyfus, Burney and McCarthy will hold a press conference shortly.

The House of Representative reacts after the introduction of the bill to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander voice. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated at 19.12 EDT

Here is how the chamber looked as Mark Dreyfus introduced the constitutional amendment bill for the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum.

Michael Sukkar is sitting in Peter Dutton’s chair.

The attorney general Mark Dreyfus introduces the constitutional alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice) 2023 bill into the House of Representatives. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The GuardianThe chamber. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The GuardianSenators Malarndirri McCarthy, Jana Stewart and Nita Green watch on. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated at 18.43 EDT

Dutton absent for introduction of Indigenous voice referendum bill

Peter Dutton was not in the House for the introduction of the constitutional amendment bill.

Updated at 18.32 EDT

Mark Dreyfus is introducing the Indigenous voice to parliament wording and principles legislation to the House.

The Labor and crossbench is largely full. The same can not be said for the opposition benches. Peter Dutton was not there for the start and David Littleproud has shown up about 10 minutes into proceedings.

The attorney general Mark Dreyfus. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated at 18.27 EDT

Voice bill

A proposal to alter the words of the Australian constitution to enshrine an Indigenous voice will be presented to federal parliament today, Australian Associated Press reports.

The attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus, will introduce the bill on Thursday, setting the wheels in motion for a referendum this year.

Parliament finalised the rules surrounding the distribution of referendum information and political donations last week, modernising laws that were last used for the republic vote in 1999.

Dreyfus said the legislation would give Australians the power to change the constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and establish a voice to parliament:

We want all members of the Australian parliament to support this referendum including every member of the crossbench and all members of the Liberal party and we’re very hopeful that there will be that support.

Alongside members of the government’s referendum working group last week, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, released the proposed words to be put to the Australian people.

The proposed question is: “A Proposed Law: to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has not yet revealed whether the Liberal party will support the voice.

Since the release of the proposed wording, Dutton has called on the government to publish advice from the solicitor general on the provision that the voice would make representations to executive government.

Albanese said the wording was backed by leading constitutional law experts including former high court chief justice Robert French and academic Anne Twomey.

Updated at 16.06 EDT