Voice to parliament referendum fails in defeat that Indigenous advocates will see as a blow to progress towards reconciliation

Australians have resoundingly rejected a proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in its constitution and establish a body to advise parliament on Indigenous issues.

Saturday’s voice to parliament referendum failed, with the defeat clear shortly after polls closed.

  • @Treczoks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10•1 year ago

    Australian Brexit moment. Some “action committees” with questionable financial sources managed to manipulate public opinion.

    • @Edgelord_Of_Tomorrow@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8•1 year ago

      Not really. This is a tragedy but historically referendums in Australia only pass with bipartisan support.

      Also historically, the side that wins the referendum doesn’t win the next election, because our referendums are zero-sum yes or no choices akin to FPTP elections which favours American-style extreme politics, whereas our general elections employ preferential voting and compulsory suffrage which requires potential governments to appeal to the political centre. The referendum has shown people who the opposition party really are, and they won’t be able to walk that back.

      • @Welt@lazysoci.alEnglish
        3•1 year ago

        Tragedy’s a bit maudlin, but otherwise totally agree with your point about referenda being like a dry run FPTP early election.

    • @Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
      7•1 year ago

      I did see something that reminded me of the last two UK referendums.

      Leading figure Warren Mundine in the No camp said the referendum was “built on a lie” and a waste of time and resources that could have been better spent on struggling communities

      Ah, where have we seen that pile of bullshit before?

      Oh yes, Brexit saying they’d give all the EU money to the NHS, and the NoToAV lot saying that babies needed incubators, not a new voting system.

      Of course none of it was actually spent on those things, it was merely a suggestion, leaving it free to be simply embezzled by Tory cunts.