"The best legal minds in the country ... have worked on this," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra on Thursday as he unveiled the question about an Indigenous voice that will be put in a referendum at the end of 2023.
The voice will initiate representations to the government and parliament as well as respond to specific questions from both.
"We have words here that put beyond doubt the power of the Australian parliament to legislate on the broad scope of the functions, powers," Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.
The voice will not have veto powers, nor administer programs, administer money or be able to grant any special rights.
It will be subject to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and members can be removed or sanctioned for serious misconduct.
The government considered legal advice from a range of constitutional experts including former High Court judge Kenneth Hayne and high-profile law academics Anne Twomey, George Williams and Megan Davis.
While the proposed referendum question could be altered by parliament, Mr Albanese said it would take a lot to convince him to change the proposed wording.
"I said, very clearly and unequivocally, that this is the position we have arrived at on the basis of the consultation process with the referendum working group," he said.
The legislation is expected to go to the Labor caucus on Tuesday and to parliament next Thursday.
Parliament will also decide the voice's final makeup if the referendum passes.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Nationals leader David Littleproud have been briefed on the proposal.
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