Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected suggestions the government was hiding legislation on the Indigenous voice, should the upcoming referendum succeed.
As pressure builds on the PM to announce the date for the referendum, Mr Albanese hit out at the coalition for failing to establish a voice when it was in government.
While proposals for a voice were previously taken to cabinet when the coalition was in office, the model was rejected.
The coalition has since committed to legislating local and regional voice bodies, rather than supporting Labor's proposal of enshrining a voice in the constitution.
"They were in government for three terms and for most of that (time) they were talking about a voice," Mr Albanese told parliament on Tuesday.
"If they think the voice is a bad idea, why are they going to legislate it? If they think they have the right idea for the structure of the voice, why are they not tabling the legislation?"
Should the referendum succeed, parliament would then legislate on setting up the voice.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told parliament the Australian public deserved a "straight answer" on how the voice would work.
The prime minister said an Indigenous voice would lift the country.
"The fact is that the leader of the opposition thought that saying sorry would be the end of the world. Now he thinks listening to people will be the end of democracy," Mr Albanese said.
NT Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy has declared "the sooner the better" to hold the referendum, and said talks to set the date had taken into account the approaching wet season.
She said the logistics of travel around remote parts of Australia was a consideration because many communities can be cut off by rain in the latter part of the year.
"It's not just for those of us who are looking for the support of this referendum, it's just the practical work of the Australian Electoral Commission (and) all of their staff who have to travel out in these remote and regional places, it's tough work," Senator McCarthy said on Monday.
October 14 has been flagged as the possible referendum date.
Polling has shown increased inclination to vote 'no', with a Guardian Essential poll of 1150 people finding 47 per cent did not approve of the voice, 43 per cent were in favour, and the remaining 10 per cent were unsure.
The poll also found opponents outnumbered supporters in every state except Victoria.
This puts the referendum requirement for a majority of states, in addition to a nationwide majority, out of reach without a swing in sentiment.
It follows a Newspoll analysis published by The Australian on Monday that showed the 'yes' case hasn't secured an absolute majority in any state.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney fended off opposition attacks on establishing a Makarrata commission - which forms part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart - saying the voice was the priority.
"The reason that we need a voice is that, for too long, governments have made policies for Indigenous Australians, not with Indigenous Australians," she said.
"The voice can change that. We need a voice because there is a life expectancy (difference) of eight years between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians."
A failed referendum would not just impact Australia domestically but potentially its international relations.
Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said the world was watching Australia's relationship with First Nations people.
He said that on diplomatic trips in the Pacific he was often asked about how Australia was advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people.
