Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, produced by the National Constitutional Convention in May 2017, contained a major proposal for reform: the alteration of the constitution to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament. When the Turnbull government formally responded to this proposition in Octob...
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Canberra, ACT: Australian National University, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR)
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ftanucanberra:oai:openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au:1885/216129 2024-01-14T10:06:50+01:00 Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 Markham, Francis Sanders, William Australian National University. Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research Australia 39 pages application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/1885/216129 https://doi.org/10.25911/5fb398ee9c47d https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/216129/3/CAEPR_WP_no_138_2020_Markham_and_Sanders_final%281%29.pdf.jpg en_AU eng Canberra, ACT: Australian National University, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) CAEPR Working Paper 138/2020 http://hdl.handle.net/1885/216129 doi:10.25911/5fb398ee9c47d https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/216129/3/CAEPR_WP_no_138_2020_Markham_and_Sanders_final%281%29.pdf.jpg Author/s retain copyright CAEPR Working Paper First Nations Voice to Parliament Opinion research Referendums Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Working/Technical Paper ftanucanberra https://doi.org/10.25911/5fb398ee9c47d 2023-12-15T09:39:19Z The Uluru Statement from the Heart, produced by the National Constitutional Convention in May 2017, contained a major proposal for reform: the alteration of the constitution to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament. When the Turnbull government formally responded to this proposition in October 2017 it dismissed the idea, arguing that a constitutional alteration referendum on a Voice would have no realistic prospect of being carried. This paper examines twelve pieces of opinion research since June 2017 to explore support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament among the Australian public. Specifically, we investigate levels of support, opposition and neutrality over time, by party affiliation, and among the six Australian States. Most polls since 2017 indicate that 70–75% of Australian voters with a committed position on the matter support a First Nations Voice to Parliament. Support and opposition are correlated with party voting intention, with levels of support higher among Green and Labor voters than Coalition and One Nation voters. There is evidence to suggest that opinions have reflected the positions of party leaders, with opposition among Coalition voters rising after the rejection of a Voice by Turnbull. Supporters of a Voice outnumber opponents in a majority of states in the two studies that have tabulated state-level responses. Recent levels of support provide a solid base for a referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament to be carried. However, it is unclear how currently uncommitted voters might decide, or how public opinion might shift during a campaign, particularly if Coalition leaders continue to oppose the proposition. With the support of Coalition leadership, the success of a future referendum appears assured. Report First Nations Australian National University: ANU Digital Collections Turnbull ENVELOPE(64.033,64.033,-70.350,-70.350) |
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Australian National University: ANU Digital Collections |
op_collection_id |
ftanucanberra |
language |
English |
topic |
First Nations Voice to Parliament Opinion research Referendums Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
spellingShingle |
First Nations Voice to Parliament Opinion research Referendums Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Markham, Francis Sanders, William Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
topic_facet |
First Nations Voice to Parliament Opinion research Referendums Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
description |
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, produced by the National Constitutional Convention in May 2017, contained a major proposal for reform: the alteration of the constitution to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament. When the Turnbull government formally responded to this proposition in October 2017 it dismissed the idea, arguing that a constitutional alteration referendum on a Voice would have no realistic prospect of being carried. This paper examines twelve pieces of opinion research since June 2017 to explore support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament among the Australian public. Specifically, we investigate levels of support, opposition and neutrality over time, by party affiliation, and among the six Australian States. Most polls since 2017 indicate that 70–75% of Australian voters with a committed position on the matter support a First Nations Voice to Parliament. Support and opposition are correlated with party voting intention, with levels of support higher among Green and Labor voters than Coalition and One Nation voters. There is evidence to suggest that opinions have reflected the positions of party leaders, with opposition among Coalition voters rising after the rejection of a Voice by Turnbull. Supporters of a Voice outnumber opponents in a majority of states in the two studies that have tabulated state-level responses. Recent levels of support provide a solid base for a referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament to be carried. However, it is unclear how currently uncommitted voters might decide, or how public opinion might shift during a campaign, particularly if Coalition leaders continue to oppose the proposition. With the support of Coalition leadership, the success of a future referendum appears assured. |
author2 |
Australian National University. Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research |
format |
Report |
author |
Markham, Francis Sanders, William |
author_facet |
Markham, Francis Sanders, William |
author_sort |
Markham, Francis |
title |
Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
title_short |
Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
title_full |
Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
title_fullStr |
Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament: Evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
title_sort |
support for a constitutionally enshrined first nations voice to parliament: evidence from opinion research since 2017 |
publisher |
Canberra, ACT: Australian National University, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/1885/216129 https://doi.org/10.25911/5fb398ee9c47d https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/216129/3/CAEPR_WP_no_138_2020_Markham_and_Sanders_final%281%29.pdf.jpg |
op_coverage |
Australia |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(64.033,64.033,-70.350,-70.350) |
geographic |
Turnbull |
geographic_facet |
Turnbull |
genre |
First Nations |
genre_facet |
First Nations |
op_source |
CAEPR Working Paper |
op_relation |
CAEPR Working Paper 138/2020 http://hdl.handle.net/1885/216129 doi:10.25911/5fb398ee9c47d https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/216129/3/CAEPR_WP_no_138_2020_Markham_and_Sanders_final%281%29.pdf.jpg |
op_rights |
Author/s retain copyright |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.25911/5fb398ee9c47d |
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1788061264305455104 |