Voice to Parliament
Council's position
Council formally stated its unanimous support for the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the Voice to Parliament at the Council meeting on 15 August 2023. As part of the motion, Council commits to sharing clear, credible information on the Voice to Parliament and all aspects of the upcoming referendum to assist residents in making their own considered and informed choice on the day. Read our media release.
The referendum
In 2023, Australians will participate in a referendum on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament for First Nations Peoples.
Australians will be asked to answer yes or no to this question:
The proposed law, being the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, would change the Constitution by inserting the following text after Chapter VIII:
Chapter IX—Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
i) there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
ii) the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
iii) the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, 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.
The proposed law would also change the Constitution by inserting the following text into the Table of Contents in the Constitution, after the reference to ‘Chapter VIII Alteration of the Constitution’:
Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Why is a First Nations Voice to Parliament being put forward?
On 27 May 2017, delegates of the National Constitutional Convention released the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
The Uluru Statement calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations People and the broader Australian population.
The Uluru Statement calls for a First Nations Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the constitution.
In 2022, the Federal Government committed to holding a referendum on a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament by the end of 2023.
When will the referendum be held?
The referendum will be held on Saturday 14 October.
Refer to the Australian Electoral Commission website to learn how to:
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Enrol to vote
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Check your enrolment
How does an Australian referendum work?
Referendums are like federal elections but with some key differences - it needs a double majority to pass.
This means two things:
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The majority of Australian voters in a referendum need to support the proposed change, AND
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The majority of voters in a majority of Australia's six states need to support the change
This means the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Northern Territory (NT) people's votes will count towards the national total, but not to the state count.
Who needs to vote?
Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years and older. If you don’t vote you may be fined or prosecuted. If you vote more than once it is a criminal offence.
The Yes and No campaigns
The Australian Electrical Commission has released a pamphlet that outlines the case for voting Yes and voting No.
Links for the No Campaign against the Voice to Parliament
Further reading
The links below are resources and information suitable for you and your family, or community and sporting groups, students and workplaces.