CANBERRA, Aug 30 (NNN-AAP) – Australians will vote on whether the constitution will be changed to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, in Oct, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese announced today.
In a speech in South Australia (SA), Albanese set Oct 14, as the date for the landmark referendum, the country’s first since 1999.
If successful, the referendum will alter the wording of the constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as the First Peoples of Australia by establishing the Voice.
Under the government’s proposed model, the Voice would act as an independent body, that would advise federal parliament on all matters that affect Indigenous Australians.
In order to be successful, a majority of Australians, as well as, a majority in at least four out of six states must vote “yes” in the referendum.
No Australian referendum has been successful since 1977, and only eight out of 44 in history have been carried.
“For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this has been a marathon,” Albanese said today, at an event officially launching the “yes” campaign.
“For all of us, it is now a sprint and across the finish line is a more unified, more reconciled Australia, with greater opportunities for all.”
“The idea for a Voice came from the people and it will be decided by the people,” he said.
“On that day, every Australian will have a once in a generation chance, to bring our country together and to change it for the better.”
Voting in the referendum will be mandatory, with Australians asked to write either “Yes” or “No” on their ballot.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) expects the poll to be the largest electoral event in the country’s history.
The most recent survey from polling company, Resolve, found national support for the proposed Voice was at 46 percent in mid-Aug.– NNN-AAP
