Australian reject Indigenous referendum

By Anadolu staff

The majority of Australians rejected a historic referendum Saturday to recognize the role of Aboriginal minorities in the Constitution.

About 59.8% of voters said "No," while 40.2% voted in favor of the referendum in 8,096 of 8,253 polling places.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who campaigned for "Yes,", said did not expect such results.

"I want to say that while tonight's result is not one that I had hoped for, I absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process that has delivered it," he said in a statement.

The Australian premier hoped that his government would continue to seek better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, their children and generations to come.

"Together we must take our country beyond this debate – without forgetting why we had it in the first place. Because a great nation like ours can and must do better for the First Australians. Our government will continue to listen to people and to communities," he later wrote on X.

"This is not only in the interests of Indigenous Australians – it is in the interests of all Australians, to build a better future for our nation," he added.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who opposed the referendum, said the result does not divide Australia as a people, but he criticized the prime minister for advocating for a "divisive" referendum, according to ABC News.

Dubbed a "Voice to Parliament," if passed, Indigenous Australians -- whose ancestors have lived on the continent for at least 60,000 years -- would have received a constitutional right to advise parliament on policies related to them, for the first time in the nation's history.

The draft Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 was passed June 19, clearing the way for a vote to form an Indigenous body that would advise on legislation and policy affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

-Who are Australia’s Indigenous people?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the “First Peoples of Australia,” known to have inhabited the continent for more than 65,000 years.

Aboriginal people mostly live on the Australian mainland and Tasmania, while the Torres Strait Islander people are settled on the islands of the Torres Strait, which lie between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Torres Strait Islands are now part of the Australian state of Queensland. There are more than 600 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and each group has its own unique culture, customs and traditions.

Since the colonization of Australia by British settlers in 1788, the Indigenous people have faced immense hardships, ranging from the loss of traditional culture and homelands to the forced removal of children and denial of citizenship rights, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid