CANBERRA, Australia: Australians will vote on October 14, in a historic referendum to decide whether to enact an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
If approved, the vote would recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the country’s constitution, and establish a permanent body for them to advise on laws. The proposal is a hot subject of debate in Australia which has not had a successful referendum in almost 50 years.
A majority of Australians need to vote yes to make the move successful. Majority support is also required for the move in at least four of Australia’s six states. The advice of the proposed body would not be binding.
The composition, powers and functions would then be designed and debated by the parliament.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, announcing the poll date at a rally in Adelaide, called the vote “a once-in-a-generation chance to bring our country together and to change it for the better”.
The Voice would be “a committee of Indigenous Australians, chosen by Indigenous Australians, giving advice to government so that we can get a better result for Indigenous Australians”, he said.
“You’re being asked… to say yes to an idea whose time has come – to say yes to an invitation that comes directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves.”
Advocates claim that the Voice is a significant step towards reconciliation because Australia is the only Commonwealth nation that has never signed a treaty with its Indigenous population.
Australia has long struggled to address the disproportionate levels of hardship faced by Indigenous Australians across society.
The Voice’s adversary and opposition leader Peter Dutton claims that the concept lacks sufficient details and controversially claims that it would racially divide Australians.
However, many No campaigners, including Mr. Dutton, have been charged with inciting racial animosity and falsehoods.
Their response has been to charge the Yes movement with elitism and disregarding the legitimate worries of regular Australians.
Advocates for mental health have cautioned that the ferocity and tone of the discussion are harming Indigenous people.
Australia via a referendum held in 1999 opted not to become a republic. Only eight of Australia’s 44 referendums have been successful – the most recent in 1977. None have passed without bipartisan support.
