Anthony Albanese has defended the wording of the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, dismissing fears of possible High Court challenges.

It comes as traditional owners from Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait are due to give evidence as an inquiry into the proposed body resumes.

The prime minister said the prospect of cases being brought before the courts due to the wording had been shot down by Australia’s top constitutional law experts.

“This is a legally sound proposition. It makes it very clear that parliament is in charge,” he told 2SM Sydney on Wednesday.

“There’s no obligation and there’s certainly not an obligation on the government to agree to the Voice. There is the provision for the Voice to be heard, for at least the views to be put.”

The third hearing of the parliamentary inquiry into the Voice to Parliament and executive government will be held in Cairns on Wednesday.

The committee is examining the proposed constitutional changes and the question that will be taken to the public before the terms of the referendum are locked in by federal parliament.

Torres Strait Island councils and traditional owner groups from Cape York and the Torres Strait are among those giving evidence at Wednesday’s hearing.

Committee member and Labor senator Nita Green said it was critical to hear local communities’ thoughts on the Voice.

“No member of the committee is leaving any stone unturned when it comes to seeking the right evidence and the right support and the right advice,” she told Sky News.

“We’re doing that and we’re doing it diligently because we know how important this committee is not only to the Australian people and to the parliament but to all of the people who care about the Voice.”

Australians will vote in the referendum on the Voice between October and December this year.

The inquiry examining the Voice started last week and has held hearings in Canberra and Orange in the NSW central west.

“What we’re asking people and talking to people in those committees about what they think about the legislation … what they think about the wording, and does the wording give effect to what they want to see a Voice to Parliament do and what it can achieve,” Senator Green said.

Former Liberal frontbencher Karen Andrews said the party was being distracted by the Voice campaign.

The Liberals have called for a legislated but not constitutionally enshrined Voice process that involves representative local and regional bodies.

Ms Andrews said while the Voice was an important issue, the opposition also needed to look at other areas.

“We need to deal with the issue of constitutional recognition, but we need to focus on all Australians and what they are looking for and that is leadership, and that is support for the issues that they face every single day,” she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

“There should be recognition in the constitution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The debate is about what that wording is going to be.”

The former frontbencher backed in the party’s decision on its Voice stance.

“We’re very focused on local communities and I think that is the right thing to do, but we also need to have the constitutional recognition,” Ms Andrews said.

– AAP