The 2023 Australian Referendum: a proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and Government

• Main Authors: Arcioni, Elisa, Edgar, Andrew
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Interdisciplinary Research Center on Public Administration 2023
• Subjects: voice; constitutional recognition; First Nations; constitutional amendment; the people; executive power; ANZSRC FoR code::48 LAW AND LEGAL STUDIES::4807 Public law
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31855; https://doi.org/10.13130/2723-9195/2023-4-15

On October 14, 2023, Australian electors voted in a referendum regarding a proposal to change the Constitution by explicitly recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the insertion of a Voice to Parliament and Government. A majority of electors in each State voted against the change, as did a majority of electors nationally. Therefore, the referendum failed. This article explains the proposal from a public law perspective and includes brief reflections regarding the public debate surrounding the referendum.