- Australian referendum preliminary results
- Indigenous “voice” proposal rejected
- Social and political division
Preliminary results suggest electors will reject proposals for indigenous people to have a “voice” in parliament, as counting has commenced.
In a historic referendum, Australians will decline proposals to include an indigenous advocacy committee in the country’s constitution.
Historic Rejection
Indigenous Voice, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, advised the government on community concerns under its prior name.
The proponent of the plans, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, acknowledged on Saturday that the outcome falls short of our expectations and that the nation should “explore alternative avenues for progress.”
Recent opinion polls showed that most Australians opposed the initiative, despite initial support.
‘No’ appears to be leading with at least 60% of the ballot with 70% counted.
Multiple television networks have predicted that the plans will be rejected by the majority of electors in all six Australian states.
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A minimum of four out of the six states and a majority vote nationwide are necessary to ratify a new constitution.
Mr. Albanese responded to detractors who claimed the plans had already sown discord throughout the nation.
“The No campaign has both stoked division and spoken about it,” he said, adding that the true division lies in the disparity between the living conditions of indigenous people and those of the general populace.
Aunty Shirley Lomas, an Aboriginal elder, asserts that non-indigenous Australians harbor a deeply ingrained dread of her community.
“Every day, racism is an everyday occurrence,” she stated. “Look at me; my white grandfather comes from Durham in England.”
When queried about her message for non-indigenous Australians, she responded, “You were presented with a chance. However, the ship of hope and benevolence has set sail, and it is possible that you will never again encounter this.
Differing Views
Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition, characterized the proposition as “another layer of democracy” devoid of any tangible results.
In Australia, referendums have proven to be arduous to pass, with a mere eight of forty-four succeeding since the country’s establishment in 1901.
A limited number of indigenous leaders, led by the opposition Liberal Party in Australia, endorsed a divisive ‘No’ campaign. These leaders contended that the proposal either fell short in its scope or failed to ameliorate the dire circumstances faced by remote Aboriginal communities.
The strategies were expounded upon in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a document authored by Indigenous leaders in 2017 which served as a strategic guide for achieving reconciliation.
Reconciliation Setback
Human rights advocates now fear, however, that the victory of the ‘No’ camp could delay reconciliation efforts by years.
Indigenous Australians, who have lived on the land for 60,000 years, are the poorest for most socioeconomic metrics and not recognised in the constitution.
Indigenous Australian women, 3.8% of the population, are twelve times more likely to be imprisoned and eight times more likely to be murdered. They also die eight years earlier than non-indigenous people.
The ‘Yes’ campaign said the community organisation will advise the government on indigenous health, education, social services, and other concerns.
The first national referendum since 1999 has over 18 million registered voters.
During early voting over the past three weeks, approximately 6 million individuals participated. Postal votes, estimated at 2 million, will be counted for nearly two weeks after Saturday’s election.
