Vote for Indigenous people
Voice referendum in Australia is in danger of failing
“Yes” votes are in the minority: 56 percent have declared in surveys that they want to vote “no” in the historic referendum. photo
© Jono Searle/AAP/dpa
Will Aborigines have a constitutionally enshrined say in the Australian Parliament in the future? Surveys are hardly hopeful – the conservative opposition is opposing it.
The so-called voice referendum is about whether the Aborigines should have a say in parliament in the future, as enshrined in the constitution. If successful, a body elected by them would advise Parliament on issues that directly affect indigenous people. But it would be up to the MPs whether they listen to the advice. “This is not a radical proposal,” Albanese said today. “This is a hand of friendship extended by the first Australians to every Australian, which only asks that it be taken in a spirit of reconciliation.”
High participation expected
Around 18 million people are called to the polls, including 530,000 indigenous people. There was an extremely high level of participation. The electoral commission said that almost half of those eligible to vote had already voted in advance. There were sometimes long queues in front of the polling stations today.
The Aborigines are considered the oldest surviving culture in the world and have populated the continent for more than 65,000 years. After the colonization of Australia, they were not granted civil rights until 1967. Today around four percent of the approximately 25 million Australians identify as indigenous. The gap in society is large and the indigenous people are still discriminated against today.
A double majority is necessary for a constitutional change: Not only would more than half of all voters vote “yes”, the majority of the six states would also have to be in favor. The polling stations are open until 6:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. CEST). If the outcome is close, it could take days before the official result is announced.