In a significant blow to reconciliation efforts, a referendum to recognize First Peoples in the Australian constitution was overwhelmingly rejected by the majority of the population. Australia’s indigenous leaders have responded by calling for a week of silence and reflection. More than 60% of Australians voted against the proposal, which was the first of its kind in nearly 25 years. The referendum sought to amend the constitution to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by establishing an Indigenous advisory body, known as the “Voice in Parliament”.
The result is not only a setback for the Indigenous community, but also tarnishes Australia’s global reputation for its treatment of First Nations peoples. Unlike countries with similar histories, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia has yet to formally recognize or reach a treaty with its First Peoples. Although they make up 3.8% of the 26 million people and have inhabited Australia for approximately 60,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not mentioned in the constitution. In addition, they are the most disadvantaged group in the country by most socio-economic measures.
Indigenous leaders expressed their disappointment in a statement shared on social media platforms, calling the situation a “bitter irony”. They criticized the refusal of those who have inhabited the continent for only 235 years to recognize those who have called this land their home for more than 60,000 years. In response to the referendum result, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag will fly at half-mast for the week.
The statement also emphasized that the referendum was an opportunity for the new inhabitants to express their gratitude and recognize the brutal dispossession of indigenous peoples, which has sustained their advantages in the country.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had invested significant political capital in the Vote referendum, faced criticism for what was seen as his biggest misstep since taking office in May last year. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton argued that the referendum was unnecessary and only served to divide the nation. A major factor in the defeat of the referendum was the lack of bipartisan support, with the leaders of the main Conservative parties campaigning for “no”.
Indigenous leaders have urged Australians who took part in the vote to reflect on the role of racism and anti-Indigenous prejudice in the outcome. They stressed that no referendum has ever been passed in Australia without bipartisan support.
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