What was the 2023 Voice referendum?
The 2023 Voice referendum was a national vote held on 14 October 2023 on whether to change the Australian Constitution to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by creating an advisory body called the Voice to Parliament. The proposal was rejected.
The idea came from the Uluru Statement from the Heart, issued in 2017 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates. It called for a Voice enshrined in the Constitution, along with a process of treaty and truth-telling.
The proposed Voice would have been able to make representations to Parliament and the government on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The result
About 60 percent of voters nationally voted no, and the proposal was rejected in every state. Only the Australian Capital Territory recorded a majority yes vote.
Supporters argued that the Voice would give Indigenous people a say in policies that affect them. Opponents raised concerns about the lack of detail, dividing Australians by race or the risk of legal challenges.
To change the Australian Constitution, a referendum must pass with a national majority and a majority of voters in a majority of states. Only eight of 45 referendums have succeeded since Federation.