Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the government’s focus on the Voice referendum as Australians struggle at the checkout and the bowser.

Albanese said his government was “doing the lot” when it came to the economy, environment and cost of living.

“But we also think after 122 years, the simple proposition that we recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia’s first people in our nation’s founding document is a very modest request,” he told Triple M radio station on Wednesday.

“When we talk about budgets, there’s been a whole lot of money put into Indigenous affairs. It clearly hasn’t been effective, the system hasn’t worked up to now and so that’s why we need to do better.”

It comes as Australian legend Cathy Freeman has thrown her voice before a successful referendum in a new Yes campaign ad.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said Freeman would always remain an icon but she didn’t agree with her position despite wanting to see her in parliament.

“As I said many times, it’s OK to vote yes and it’s OK to vote no,” she told Sky News on Wednesday.

“What’s not OK is the type of disrespect and abuse that people experienced only a day or so ago in Adelaide and the yelling at members of the No campaign.”

She branded the constitutional change as “unknown and permanent”.

Australians will head to the polls on October 14 and will be asked whether they want to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution by enshrining an advisory body that can make representations to the government and parliament.

– AAP