General News
4 September, 2023
Referendum date set for Voice to Parliament
It’s official — Australians will go to the polls on October 14, to cast their vote for or against the Voice to Parliament referendum. Come next month, over 17 million people across the country will vote either Yes or No to alter the Constitution...
It’s official — Australians will go to the polls on October 14, to cast their vote for or against the Voice to Parliament referendum.
Come next month, over 17 million people across the country will vote either Yes or No to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The proposed change involves the creation of an advisory body, the Voice, which will consist of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, representing the views and interests of their communities.
Announcing the date for the country’s first referendum since 1999, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that voters were being given an opportunity to change the country for the better.
“For many years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have advocated for constitutional recognition through a Voice — now, my fellow Australians, you can vote for it,” he said.
“[The Voice will be] a committee of Indigenous Australians, chosen by Indigenous Australians, giving advice to government so that we can get better results for Indigenous Australians.
“We’ll be able to hear directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities about the challenges they face in health and education, in jobs and housing, and we’ll be able to learn about the things that are working in local areas, so we can replicate them and make them work right around the country — the idea for a Voice came from the people and it will be decided by the people.”
It is compulsory for all eligible people to vote in the referendum — at the polling booth, voters will receive a ballot paper detailing the question, in response to which they will have to write Yes or No (marking the box with a tick or cross will not be accepted as a valid vote).
Australians can also choose to vote remotely from September 25 or ahead of time, with early voting centres opening in Victoria from October 2.
More details on where to vote will be published by The Advertiser in the coming weeks.