Australia: Indigenous 'Voice' Referendum to Be Held Next Year

    Photo: AAP [via Daily Mail]

    The Facts

    • On Wednesday, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, speaking at the Woodford Folk Festival, confirmed plans to legislate the Indigenous Voice to Parliament early in 2023 and hold a referendum on it by next Christmas.

    • The timeline for this referendum comes as Albanese's government has been committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in the Australian constitution.


    The Spin

    Right narrative

    Driven by white guilt, Albanese's government has been promoting the elitist Indigenous Voice proposal as if the 250 un-elected activists who signed the 2017 Uluru Statement were the legitimate representatives of all Aboriginal Australians. Creating this parallel entity won't actually solve any of their day-to-day issues but rather divide the nation by race.

    Left narrative

    The establishment of the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament is a necessary step to protect the interests of affected communities as it will enhance democracy by allowing Aboriginal Australians to choose their own representatives. If politicians are left to select the Indigenous representatives to which they listen, regression in Indigenous affairs will only continue.

    Nerd narrative

    There's an 82% chance that Australia will hold a Federal Referendum on an "Indigenous Voice to Parliament" before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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