Australia rejects proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in constitution
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/14/australia-rejects-proposal-to-recognise-aboriginal-people-in-constitution
Australia rejects proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in constitution
Voice to parliament referendum fails in defeat that Indigenous advocates will see as a blow to progress towards reconciliation
Elias Visontay
Sat 14 Oct 2023 04.53 EDT
Australians have resoundingly rejected a proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in its constitution and establish a body to advise parliament on Indigenous issues.
Saturdays voice to parliament referendum failed, with the defeat clear shortly after polls closed.
To succeed, the yes campaign advocating for the voice needed to secure a double majority, meaning it needed both a majority of the national vote, as well majorities in four of Australias six states.
The defeat will be seen by Indigenous advocates as a blow to what has been a hard fought struggle to progress reconciliation and recognition in modern Australia, with First Nations people continuing to suffer discrimination, poorer health and economic outcomes.
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