Australia would go to polls to vote for a Voice referendum. The proposal is inclusive to indigenous people and is the first time they would be recognised in the Australian constitution.
The Vote of yes,would lead to the formation of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, which is a formal body for indigenous people to give advice on the law of Australia. The citizens of the nation would be voting on October 14.The voting is kept to be compulsory for citizens above the age of 18.
Indigenous People of Australia
The indigenous people of Australia, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have been first counted in the population in 1971,with no dedicated seats in the government for them.
They were first given the right to vote in 1962. The voice for self determination and endless. Today they constitute 3.8 percent of the total population with an increment of 23.2 percent in the last five years, according to statistics by Australian Bureau of Statistics.Their mortality rate is eight years less than the average Australian age.
In 2017, the document called the Uluru statement ,was drafted by more than 250 Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. It called for the establishment of an advisory body , constitutionally enshrined;it is a part of a longer process of treaty making and truth telling.
The question proposed to the voters
A Proposed Law for altering the Constitution and recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, asking do they approve this proposed alteration?
On October 14,the people would be asked to put a ballot on ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
What does the Referendum entails?
The constitutional amendment requires a double majority support ,from the majority of the states. It was proposed by Prime Minister Mr. Anthony Albanese just after their victory.
According to the proposed changes,Constitutional amendment the proposed law that Australians are being asked to approve at the referendum would insert the additional lines into the Constitution as Chapter IX for the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
According to which,there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia. The Voice may make representations to the Parliament ,the Executive Government on matters pertaining to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their interests.
With regards to this Constitution,the parliament shall have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
According to Prime Minister Mr.Albanese,the voice would act as a source of advice and accountability ,but not a third party in the chamber.
The opponents of the proposal are critical of and accuse the government of not providing correct details on who would be the part of the Voice and how it would function.
While it appears to be too radical for some ,it is not the same for others .
Voice would be a powerless indigenous body and that it insulted the intelligence of indigenous people,said Lidia Thorpe, Independent Indigenous Senator.
The campaign against it also claims that it would perpetually divide people on racial lines
From 1901,there have been forty -four proposals for constitutional Amendments in Australia the last being in 1999,in which Australians voted against it. The Referendum asked for indigenous recognition,while also asking that Australians to approve for a preamble of the constitution.The yes vote would make Australia recognise Indigenous people, aligning them with the USA, Canada and New Zealand.
