The Voice referendum in Australia is a historic referendum that will be held on October 14, 2023, where Australians will vote on whether to elevate First Nations voices. The proposal, known as the Voice, will recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution for the first time and establish a national Indigenous representative body to advise the Australian Parliament on matters affecting Indigenous communities. The Voice would not have the power to veto legislation, and there is no obligation upon parliament or the executive government to respond to the Voices advice. The referendum requires a majority of votes in a majority of states to succeed, and if successful, parliament will then design the Voice via legislation.
The referendum has been the subject of controversy, with some opponents spreading misinformation about the potential impacts of the Voice, such as banning home ownership, getting rid of Anzac Day commemorations, and leading to a system of apartheid. However, these claims have been debunked by experts, and the Voice has the backing of more than 80% of Indigenous Australians. The Australian Human Rights Commission has produced an educational resource kit to encourage the Australian public to consider the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum through a human rights lens.
