Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum

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Voting at Wang. i.e. Wangaratta (1970). H2005.100/72604

The original purpose of this guide was to offer valuable resources to assist members of the Library community actively participating in discussions concerning the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

It aimed to provide timely information about the Uluru Statement From The Heart and to empower individuals to make well-informed decisions when voting in the referendum.

Important Notice:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals are advised that this website and any linked external content may include images, voices, and names of deceased persons.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, also known as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament (in this guide, "the Voice"), aims to establish a representative body comprised of First Nations individuals, with the purpose of advocating for the perspectives and interests of Indigenous communities.

As this necessitates a change to the Australian Constitution, this will be decided by a referendum. If it is approved, the Voice will be granted recognition within the Australian Constitution. This will enable the Voice to advocate for Indigenous Australians by making representations to the Parliament of Australia and the executive government on relevant matters.

Upon a successful referendum vote, the government will be responsible for designing the precise structure of the Voice, which will subsequently be implemented through legislation passed by Parliament.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart, also known as the Uluru Statement, represents a significant appeal for constitutional, legal, and structural reforms put forth by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to the entire Australian population. This pivotal statement was issued during the First Nations Constitutional Convention held at Uluru on 26th May 2017.

Read the full Uluru Statement.

The referendum was held on October 14, 2023, with the result being that the 'No' vote carried across all states.

The final totals had the Yes vote at 39.94 percent of the vote, with the No vote at 60.06 percent.

Referendum timing

It is stated on the Australian Electoral Commission website that:

A referendum must be held no earlier than two months and no later than six months after a Constitution alteration bill has passed Parliament.

As the referendum bill passed parliament on June 19, 2023, the referendum date of October 14, 2023 was within the timeframe set by legislation rules, which was between August 2023 and December 2023.

See the relevant legislation: Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984

As stated on the Australian Electoral Commission's Referendum FAQ page:

Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years or older. If you do not vote and don’t have a valid and sufficient reason, you may be fined. The AEC will write to you at the address listed on the electoral roll and ask you to provide a reason why you did not vote.

If you have any questions or feedback regarding this guide, please contact us via the Ask a Librarian service.