New Zealanders aren’t the only ones voting this Saturday - Australia is also heading to the polls to decide on its Indigenous Voice referendum. Australia correspondent Aziz Al Sa’afin breaks it down.
It’s shaping up to be a big weekend for the Tasman.
On one side, New Zealanders will decide who their next government will be.
On the other, Australians will decide whether they will recognise their Indigenous people in their constitution.
It’s a referendum issue that has generated a lot of heated debate. So, what exactly are Australians voting on?
What is the referendum question?
Australia currently does not recognise its First Peoples in its constitution.
The Voice to Parliament referendum would change that.
Australians will be asked to answer yes or no to the following question:
“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?”
If the ‘Yes’ vote wins, it would see a chapter added to the constitution.
The chapter would see the creation of a body to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. That body may make representations to the government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
So, what does that actually mean?
Australians are deciding on whether to amend their constitution and ultimately recognise the country’s First Peoples as well as establish an advisory body that can provide a literal “voice” in government.
It would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a direct line to advise government on issues that affect their communities - things like education, health, and employment.
Contrary to some popular beliefs online, the advisory body won’t override government or have the power to create laws.
If the referendum carries, the Australian parliament will determine exactly how the advisory group functions, who is involved, and pass legislation to bring it into practice.
Putting this in the body of the constitution means it can’t be scrapped by future governments.
Still confused? Let’s break it down with these five points:
1. The Voice will not have legislative power. It won't be able to make or enforce laws, so it won't be “taking over Parliament” as some online commentators have suggested.
2. The Voice's role is advisory. It will offer recommendations and advice on policies and legislation that impact Indigenous communities. Think of it as expert guidance, not "sweeping powers”.
3. The Voice will focus on matters concerning Indigenous peoples. That means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will get a say on things that affect their own communities.
4. The Voice aims to improve the lives of Indigenous people, who are currently hugely under-represented in Australia and have much shorter lifespans.
5. The specific structure and composition of The Voice will be determined by the Australian Parliament, ensuring it is representative of Indigenous communities.
Is the referendum likely to pass?
Any change to Australia’s constitution has traditionally proven extremely difficult.
Only eight of the 44 previous proposals for constitutional change have been approved.
As it’s a constitutional change, this referendum would need a double majority to pass. This means a majority of voters in Australia must vote ‘Yes’ nationally and a majority of states must also vote ‘Yes’ – so four out of the six states.
More than three million people have already voted in the referendum but the latest polls suggest the Voice referendum will fail.
National support has dropped to 43%, down from 46% in August.
Meanwhile, Tasmania appears to be the only state backing the referendum with 56% support.
Polls suggest the ‘No’ vote is strongest in Queensland with 64% of people there rejecting the referendum.
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