Australian Referendum Date Announced - Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Controversial: Politics & Govt Politics & Govt: Chat / Discussions
,
1

The PM Albo has finally announced the date for the referendum on “The Voice”.

It’s a tough ask, only 8 out of 44 referendums to change the Constitution have been successful, the last successful referendum was in 1967. No referendum without bi-partisan support has ever been successful and this one is not supported by the Coalition.

To pass the referendum has to have a double majority, a majority of the total vote and a majority in 4 out of the 6 states.

The following will be added to the Australian Constitution:

"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:

  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.”
1 Like
2

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this.

3

How sensible - to set out exactly what the changes would be prior to the referendum.

1 Like
4

The advantage of having a constitution is that there are rules for government including changing the constitution. It is all written down:

128. Mode of altering the Constitution

This Constitution shall not be altered except in the following manner:

The proposed law for the alteration thereof must be passed by an absolute majority of each House of the Parliament, and not less than two nor more than six months after its passage through both Houses the proposed law shall be submitted in each State and Territory to the electors qualified to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives.

But if either House passes any such proposed law by an absolute majority, and the other House rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with any amendment to which the first-mentioned House will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the first-mentioned House in the same or the next session again passes the proposed law by an absolute majority with or without any amendment which has been made or agreed to by the other House, and such other House rejects or fails to pass it or passes it with any amendment to which the first-mentioned House will not agree, the Governor-General may submit the proposed law as last proposed by the first-mentioned House, and either with or without any amendments subsequently agreed to by both Houses, to the electors in each State and Territory qualified to vote for the election of the House of Representatives.

When a proposed law is submitted to the electors the vote shall be taken in such manner as the Parliament prescribes. But until the qualification of electors of members of the House of Representatives becomes uniform throughout the Commonwealth, only one-half the electors voting for and against the proposed law shall be counted in any State in which adult suffrage prevails.

And if in a majority of the States a majority of the electors voting approve the proposed law, and if a majority of all the electors voting also approve the proposed law, it shall be presented to the Governor-General for the Queen’s assent.

No alteration diminishing the proportionate representation of any State in either House of the Parliament, or the minimum number of representatives of a State in the House of Representatives, or increasing, diminishing, or otherwise altering the limits of the State, or in any manner affecting the provisions of the Constitution in relation thereto, shall become law unless the majority of the electors voting in that State approve the proposed law.

In this section, Territory means any territory referred to in section one hundred and twenty-two of this Constitution in respect of which there is in force a law allowing its representation in the House of Representatives.

1 Like
5

God Almighty what is the fuss about ? - you think they would be doing an “eddie marbo” and asking for the entire continent back - and declaring it Aborigine Land?? some people may recall the Eddie Marbo challenge in the high court that proved that Australia was not empty land - that it was settled by a settled peoples that we now called the Aborigines or Indigenous ones or First Nation peoples ffs!!

The original owners of the land both spiritual and traditional and agrigultural etc etc was the Aborigines and then we came and stole it? [and now we don’t even wanna give a little bit of it back in law??}