Voice to Parliament yes campaigns are launching across Australia, while the launch is in Perth

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned his political opponents not to miss the opportunity to enshrine an Indigenous voice in Parliament as “Yes” campaigns were launched across the country on Saturday.

At a community barbecue among his constituency in western Sydney, Mr Albanese told the crowd the referendum, due to take place between October and December, was a chance to “unite our nation”.

“I say to those in political leadership, don’t miss this opportunity this time,” he said.

On the first day of a national “week of action” by Yes activists, Mr Albanese asked the crowd, “If not now, then when?”

“This isn’t about symbolism or practical results,” he said.

“The voice is a means to an end – to bridge the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia.

“On education, health, housing, incarceration rates, life expectancy and infant mortality.”

The ‘Yes’ from the Heart campaign kicked off in Perth with a community barbecue hosted by the City of Melville in Willagee, where Uluru Dialogue Engagement Lead Nolan Hunter addressed a crowd of around 50.

The former leader of the Kimberley Land Council hit back at critics of the referendum’s level of detail, stressing that deliberations on the vote had taken “longer than any other referendum”.

“If a referendum is passed, then the details would be created with the existing powers of parliament and government,” he said.

“But you can’t have that before a referendum because it’s not a requirement.

“If you look at the 44 referendums that have taken place since 1901, they have never asked for the level of detail that people are asking for today.”

Mr Hunter said Aboriginal people have “spent all of history fighting for our identity and a say in the laws that were made for us”, causing intergenerational trauma in the population.

“It’s not about major constitutional change, it’s a minimal requirement to ensure governments can talk to us through a structured process before making laws and policies that affect us,” he said.

Noongar woman Peggy Cockie attended the Willagee event with her daughters and grandchildren and said “it’s time to do something” to give the next generation of Aboriginal people a voice.

Ms Cockie simply dismissed those who said there was not enough information: “Open your eyes and read”.

Mr Albanese said he would be reaching out to any parliamentarian from across the political spectrum to raise their voice, as this should not be the subject of partisan debate.

“It will send a message to the world that we are a mature nation, that we are ready to confront our history and who we are,” he said.

It comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told Parliament on Monday he regretted boycotting the 2008 apology to the stolen generation as he failed to understand the “symbolic importance” of the moment.

Mr Dutton on Friday continued to demand more information about the vote, warning it would fail and accusing the Albanian government of withholding key details about the vote.