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ABC News
ABC News
National
political reporter Dana Morse

From the Heart readies to launch its official 'Yes' campaign for Voice to Parliament

A referendum on the Voice to Parliament will be held sometime after October this year. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)

The First Nations organisation leading the push for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament is preparing to officially launch its Yes campaign in Adelaide this week. 

Run by the From the Heart organisation, the campaign launch will officially kick off on Thursday night at the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in Adelaide.

From the Heart director Dean Parkin said it was an important step on the road to the referendum.

"From the past several years of talking to people on the subject of constitutional recognition across communities, we know the Australian people are up for this," Mr Parkin said.

"We have long argued that support for constitutional recognition through a Voice is a way to bring the country together."

Ahead of the launch, the group is hosting "campaign lab" events over two days, where hundreds of volunteers and community groups will get information on the campaign to share in their own communities.

The ABC understands the campaign will mirror the same model that half a dozen community "teal" independents used successfully at the federal election in May.

Dean Parkin argues the Voice will help bring Australians together.

Community events, informal conversations and town hall meetings formed a big part of those campaigns, and From the Heart is hoping to replicate that success at a national referendum.

Dean Parkin says having the right information is key to making those conversations accurate and informed.

"We have always said that it will be the conversations around barbecues and in sports clubs and community hubs where people will really connect on the issue and share understanding of what this referendum is about.

"This all comes following more than a decade of bipartisan consensus on the need for constitutional recognition, and the modest request from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that recognition come through a Voice to Parliament, which will support practical outcomes in communities," Mr Parkin said.

The official campaign launch comes after a "week of action" by advocates for a Yes vote across the country, kicked off by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a community barbecue in Sydney on Saturday.

The prime minister used the event to encourage his parliamentary colleagues not to stand against the Voice.

"I say to those in positions of political leadership, do not miss this opportunity this time," Mr Albanese said in his address to the crowd.

"It's about recognition and it's about consultation, that's what it's about and that's what we need to deliver."

Mr Albanese said yesterday the referendum was expected to be held between October and December this year.

Two of the bodies running No campaigns, Recognise a Better Way and Advance Australia have not announced if or when there will be an official launch for their campaigns.

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