LOGIN

An Australian referendum to create an Indigenous advocacy committee to Parliament has failed

by Andrew Wright
5 comments
Indigenous Voice Referendum

The failure of an Australian referendum aimed at establishing an Indigenous advocacy committee within Parliament has left proponents of constitutional change deeply disheartened. The referendum’s objective was to create a committee that would provide guidance to Parliament on policies affecting Indigenous people, who constitute the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority.

Early ballot counts revealed that 57% of voters opposed the establishment of the Indigenous Voice. Projections from the Australian Broadcasting Corp. indicated that New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia had all rejected the proposed amendment. For the referendum to succeed, the Indigenous Voice needed majorities in at least four of the six states, along with a nationwide majority.

Tanya Hosch, a passionate advocate for the Indigenous Voice who dedicated a decade to developing the model, expressed her personal devastation in an interview with ABC. She remarked, “There’s going to be a lot of pain and hurt and dismay, and we’re going to need to take a moment to absorb that message and what it says.”

Another advocate, Tom Mayo, also expressed his deep dismay and attributed the failure to unfair attacks on the plan. He criticized what he described as a dishonest and misleading “no” campaign.

Opinion polls in recent months had indicated a strong majority of Australians opposing the proposal, despite earlier support earlier in the year. Voice advocates had hoped that this initiative, centered on listening to Indigenous perspectives, would lead to more effective government service delivery and improved outcomes for Indigenous lives.

It is important to note that Indigenous Australians, constituting only 3.8% of the population, face significant challenges, including a life expectancy eight years shorter than the wider population, a suicide rate twice the national average, and diseases in remote regions that have been eradicated in other prosperous nations.

The Indigenous Voice referendum would have marked the first successful referendum in Australia since 1977 and the first to pass without bipartisan support from the major political parties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Indigenous Voice Referendum

What was the purpose of the Australian referendum mentioned in the text?

The purpose of the Australian referendum was to create an Indigenous advocacy committee within Parliament. This committee would offer advice to Parliament on policies affecting Indigenous people, who are considered the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority.

What percentage of voters opposed the Indigenous Voice in the referendum?

Early counting revealed that 57% of voters opposed the establishment of the Indigenous Voice.

Which states rejected the referendum amendment?

The Australian Broadcasting Corp. projections indicated that New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia had rejected the referendum amendment.

What were the key goals of the Indigenous Voice advocates?

Indigenous Voice advocates aimed to ensure that listening to Indigenous perspectives would lead to more effective delivery of government services and better outcomes for Indigenous lives.

When was the last successful referendum in Australia before this one?

The last successful referendum in Australia before this one occurred in 1977.

Did this referendum have bipartisan support from major political parties?

No, the Indigenous Voice referendum was the first ever to pass without bipartisan support from the major political parties.

More about Indigenous Voice Referendum

You may also like

5 comments

Reader123 October 14, 2023 - 11:22 am

wow, this is sad news! Indigenous voice should be heard, but they said no, 57% said nah! smh.

Reply
PunctuationGuy October 14, 2023 - 6:36 pm

Missing a lot of commas and full stops, hard to read.

Reply
SeriousMind October 14, 2023 - 11:54 pm

Devastating result for the Indigenous Voice. advocates worked hard. sad it’s not bipartisan support.

Reply
CuriousCat October 15, 2023 - 5:51 am

What’s the plan now for improving the situation of Indigenous Australians?

Reply
InfoGeek October 15, 2023 - 8:16 am

Wonder what led to the shift in public opinion from earlier this year?

Reply

Leave a Comment

BNB – Big Big News is a news portal that offers the latest news from around the world. BNB – Big Big News focuses on providing readers with the most up-to-date information from the U.S. and abroad, covering a wide range of topics, including politics, sports, entertainment, business, health, and more.

Editors' Picks

Latest News