The World Briefly

June 20, 2023

The Voice

Australia

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Australia’s upper house of parliament approved a bill to hold a referendum on Indigenous rights Monday, clearing the final hurdle for a vote that would enshrine the country’s Indigenous population in the constitution and better represent them in government, the Financial Times reported.

The passing of the bill is part of a push by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Labor party to recognize Australia’s Indigenous people. It also seeks the establishment of an independent body – known as “the Voice” – that will advise the government on matters related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Albanese said the referendum is “a chance to make our nation greater,” with supporters describing it as critical to Australia’s national identity.

The vote will take place in the next six months, with October as the speculated time.

But despite the bill’s passing, tensions have simmered over the upcoming public vote.

Opposition parties criticized the proposed constitutional amendment as “divisive,” adding that it would abolish “equality of citizenship” in Australia. They have adopted a “no” stance on the referendum, decreasing its chances of success.

Complicating matters is also waning public opinion over the referendum. Detractors noted that there is not enough detail about how much power the advisory body would wield.

Others questioned if the Voice is merely symbolic and would not significantly impact the life of Indigenous people.

Indigenous lawmaker Lidia Thorpe objected to the Voice and instead called for Australia to adopt a treaty that guarantees the sovereignty of the country’s Indigenous population – similar to legislation in Canada and New Zealand.

Referendums on constitutional amendments in Australia face a high bar in gaining bipartisan support, and most have failed.

This story originally appeared in the June 20, 2023 newsletter, End Game.