Australia rejects historic referendum to recognise Indigenous people in the Constitution | WION

Summary

Australians voted against a historic indigenous referendum, which aimed to grant greater political rights and recognize native groups in the Constitution. Despite 40% support, over 60% rejected the proposal for 'The Voice' to Parliament, marking the second national vote on indigenous recognition since 1999.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ A historic indigenous referendum in Australia was voted against by the majority.
• 📜 The referendum aimed to provide greater political rights to indigenous people and amend the Constitution.
• 🏛️ All six states in Australia voted 'no' to the proposal, which included recognizing indigenous groups and creating a body called The Voice.
• 🔢 Over 60% of voters were against the referendum, while nearly 40% were in favor.
• 📆 This was the second attempt at indigenous recognition, the first being in 1999.
• 💬 The Prime Minister expressed respect for the democratic decision, despite the outcome not being the hoped-for result.
• 🌏 The referendum was the first move of its kind in 50 years and was part of a peaceful democratic process.
• 🔍 The Voice was proposed to provide indigenous representation in Parliament, as outlined in a 2017 document by indigenous leaders.
• 🛣️ The objective was to create a roadmap for reconciliation between indigenous communities and the wider Australian population.
• 📊 Indigenous Australians make up only 3.8% of the country's population but have faced significant structural and policy issues.
• 📱 An app called Weon is now available for news updates in Australia.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the historic indigenous referendum held in Australia?

The purpose of the historic indigenous referendum in Australia was to give greater political rights to indigenous people, including recognizing native groups and creating a body called 'The Voice' to advise the government.

What was the outcome of the referendum on the proposal to amend the Constitution?

The proposal to amend the Constitution was rejected, with all six states in Australia voting 'no', and over 60% of the population voting against it.

What is 'The Voice' as mentioned in the script?

'The Voice' is a proposed body intended to represent indigenous groups and advise the government on matters concerning them, as part of the constitutional amendment proposal.

How did the Australian Prime Minister respond to the referendum result?

The Australian Prime Minister expressed respect for the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process, acknowledging that while the result was not what was hoped for, it was a peaceful and equal decision-making process.

What was the first attempt to address the issue of indigenous recognition in Australia?

The first attempt to address the issue of indigenous recognition in Australia was in 1999, which was the first time such an issue was put to a national vote.

What does the term 'one vote, one value' signify in the context of the script?

The term 'one vote, one value' signifies the principle of equal voting power for all citizens in the democratic process, regardless of their background or identity.

What is the demographic percentage of indigenous Australians in the total population?

Indigenous Australians account for 3.8% of the total population of Australia.

What structural and policy-related issues have indigenous communities historically faced in Australia?

Indigenous communities in Australia have historically faced a range of structural and policy-related issues, which they attribute to a lack of parliamentary representation.

What was the proposal's objective regarding the reconciliation of native communities with the wider population of Australia?

The proposal aimed to lay out a roadmap for reconciliation between native communities and the wider population of Australia, ensuring greater political inclusion and representation.

When was the document proposing 'The Voice to Parliament' crafted by indigenous leaders?

The document proposing 'The Voice to Parliament' was crafted by indigenous leaders in 2017.

What is the significance of the referendum being the first such move in 50 years?

The significance of the referendum being the first such move in 50 years highlights the rarity and importance of this attempt to address indigenous rights and recognition in Australia's political landscape.