State and territory leaders, as well as former premiers of various persuasions, have made a 'yes' pitch eight days out from the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament.
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Labor premiers Peter Malinauskas (South Australia), Chris Minns (NSW), Jacinta Allen (Victoria), Roger Cook (WA) and NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles reaffirmed support at a joint press conference in Adelaide on Friday.
Further south, former Labor and Liberal Tasmanian premiers spoke together outside parliament house in Hobart.
Tasmania has been considered a state crucial to the outcome of the referendum on October 14.
"I always felt in government it was really important to listen ... that is all the voice is about," Will Hodgman, Liberal premier from 2014-20, said.
"It is an advisory body that will allow and empower governments to better make decisions that serve all Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians.
"No one is seriously saying this is the silver bullet ... but it will certainly be a significant improvement."
Premier Jeremy Rockliff, the only Liberal premier in Australia, also backs the voice, at odds with federal party leader Peter Dutton.
Mr Rockliff's former colleague and predecessor Peter Gutwein said he supported the 'yes' campaign because he wants to see things improve.
"It's unacceptable in this country that we have people who have, on average, a life expectancy of eight years below that of the average Australian," he said.
Paul Lennon, Labor premier from 2004-08, lamented the debate had become political.
"It has been pretty sad for me to watch this descend into a political debate over the past two months," said Mr Lennon, who was joined by former Labor premier Michael Field (1989-92).
"I hope Tasmanians can look above that."
Several prominent Tasmanian Aboriginal bodies, including the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, are against the voice.
State and territory premiers in February signed a statement of intent to formally support an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Australian Associated Press
