Australia Will Finally Hold A Referendum On Recognizing Indigenous People
Australia’s constitution does not include any mention of Indigenous Australians, who have occupied the country for at least 65,000 years.
The Australian parliament has passed bill to hold a referendum on recognizing Aboriginal people in the country’s constitution.
Currently, Australia’s constitution does not include any mention of Indigenous Australians, who have occupied the country for at least 65,000 years.
Indigenous Australians make up about 3.2% of Australia’s population but historically been marginalized.
The referendum will ask Australians if they agree to alter the constitution to create a committee of Indigenous representatives.
If passed, it would require consultations with Indigenous people on decisions that affect their lives, according to Reuters.
Australia’s parliament approved the bill to hold the referendum with a majority of votes, 52 to 19, on Monday, June 19.
Australian Indigenous leaders have called the referendum a historic step towards recognition and reconciliation.
“It is a very simple request… to be recognised in the constitution,” Indigenous senator, Malarndirri McCarthy, said, according to Reuters.
Speaking after the vote, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese called on people to vote yes in the referendum.
“And I say to my fellow Australians, parliaments pass laws but it is people who make history,” Albanese said. “This is your time, your chance, your opportunity to be a part of making history… This once in a lifetime opportunity to lift our great nation even higher. Recognition of this continent’s first people in our nation’s constitution, listening to their voices on issues that impact them.”
It will be Australia’s first referendum in 24 years and will be held around October and December of this year.
It would require the support of more than half of eligible voters to pass.
