The Voice to Parliament

On the 14th of October Australians will be voting on the following question:

A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

But, what does this mean?

The upcoming referendum seeks to amend the Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, a development stemming from the recommendations of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017.

What does altering the Constitution mean?

Passing a referendum is the only way to amend the Australian Constitution. Constitutional enshrinement of the Voice will mean it becomes a permanent provision within the Australian Constitution and cannot be abolished by different governments. If the referendum passes, the details of the Voice are determined by Parliament through passing legislation.

What is the Voice?

The proposed Voice to Parliament aims to serve as an independent advisory body, offering guidance and recommendations on policies and legislation that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The Voice is designed to foster a more direct line of communication between these communities and the Federal Government. It is proposed that representatives of the Voice to Parliament would be selected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in their local areas and would serve for a fixed term.

Why is it important?

The Voice aims to serve as an independent advisory body, providing expert guidance to Parliament on policies and legislation that disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This is particularly crucial in areas like health, education, and criminal justice, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are significantly overrepresented due to the lingering impacts of colonisation, systemic racism, and dispossession.

References & Additional Links

Lee, Carissa, ‘The Voice to Parliament Explained’, The Conversation (30 August 2023) <https://theconversation.com/the-voice-to-parliament-explained-212100>.

‘The Voice’, Australian Government (Web page) <https://voice.gov.au>.

Twomey, Anne, ‘Australians Will Vote in a Referendum on October 14. What Do You Need to Know?’, The Conversation (30 August 2023) <https://theconversation.com/australians-will-vote-in-a-referendum-on-october-14-what-do-you-need-to-know-195352>.

‘Voice Referendum: Understanding the referendum from a human rights perspective’, Australian Human Rights Commission (Web page) <https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/voice-referendum-understanding>.

‘The Voice Referendum: Everything You Need to Know,’ ABC News (3 October 2023) <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-03/the-voice-referendum-everything-you-need-to-know/102895238>.