Liberal premier, ex-MP join calls for Indigenous voice

Australia's only remaining Liberal government and a former federal Liberal MP have joined the 'yes' campaign for the Indigenous voice to parliament. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday stood alongside Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and ex-MP for Macarthur Pat Farmer, who is setting off on an epic run across Australia in support of the voice.

Mr Rockliff said the voice was about moving forward together as a nation.

"It's high time we took responsibility and found another way ... that we can firstly recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our national constitution but also simply sit down and work through the issues in a consultative way," he told reporters in Hobart. 

"I've said how I'm going to vote and that will be yes. That is the way that I believe is in the best interests of this nation."

As an ultramarathon runner, Mr Farmer has spent decades racing around the world to support humanitarian causes.

But his latest feat will be to run more than 14,000 kilometres - starting in Hobart and ending at Uluru - to raise awareness, support and engagement for the voice across Australia.

"This is not a divisive exercise, this is the exercise of unity," he said.

"My footsteps are the thread that will weave together this magic tapestry to take us to the future."

Mr Farmer said his daughter had suggested he run for the voice.

"It seems to me (for) every person under the age of 30, this is an absolute no-brainer," he said.

"And they can't understand why we're even having a referendum on the issue. It should just naturally be in place already but it's not."

The first weeks of the run will see Mr Farmer complete a lap of Tasmania, before flying to Perth and making his way up the WA coast.

Already the runner has raised almost $27,000 since fundraising efforts started last month, with the goal of reaching $500,000.

Mr Albanese said Australians have responded to the invitation put forward by the voice with fairness and decency.

"Pat, you have a long journey ahead of you and friends, we are all on a great journey together," he said.

"For all of us, there will be days when the ground is rocky and the going is tough. There will be days when it's all we can do to put one foot in front of the other. 

"But when we cross the finish line, the destination will be worth it."

A referendum to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution will take place between October and December.

Mr Farmer is using Australia's love of sport to bring the country together in support of a 'yes' vote.

Over the next six months, he will run up to 80 kilometres a day as part of his Run for the Voice campaign.

The prime minister has pledged a successful referendum will allow Australians to recognise the "unique privilege" of sharing the nation with the world's oldest living culture in the constitution. 

"An Australia more united, more reconciled and with greater fairness and opportunity for all," he said.