A Voice to Parliament

The federal government has announced the proposed question Australians will be asked at this year’s referendum and the draft constitutional amendment that would enable an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The referendum will ask:

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

As required by the constitution for a change to the constitution the question will include the actual wording to be added.

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
2. 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;
3. 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.

This has to be passed in Parliament then within 6 months has to put to the people a a referendum. The vote has to obtain a majority over all and in the majority of states. (None of your vague Brexit like vote here)

Only 8 out of 44 proposed changes to the constitution have been successful so it is always an uphill battle to make changes.

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I forgot to include a reference

With all the interest shown so far you will be excited to know that the bill that would trigger the referendum on whether to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament has been introduced into the lower house.

Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023

The Liberal Party has joined their Coalition partners in opposing the Voice to Parliament,

No referendum has ever been successful without the support of both sides of the house however it it does get up then that will be the end of Mr Potatohead’s leadership but it only takes three states to vote “No” for the referendum to fail.