In just a few short weeks, Australia will cast a historic vote. The results will set the course of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relations, identity, and even living standards for generations to come. And yet, as important as that decision is, many are still confused on exactly what is a Voice to Parliament.
The blame for this does not lie entirely at the feet of the voter. From at least last year, lobby groups have been accused of falsely characterising the Voice in campaign ads while the official No campaign is actively encouraging people not to educate themselves upon it. As the campaigns draw to a close, the discourse around the Voice is only set to become increasingly muddy.
If you don’t know, it’s time to find out. Polling for the Voice indicates that support continues to slip and, in all likelihood, could very well fail to pass. Part of that is due to growing voter apathy and confusion, something the No campaign understands all too well. Indigenous academics and campaigners however have said that, as 97% of the population, it’s the responsibility of non-Indigenous Australians to inform themselves about what a Voice to Parliament actually means.
Despite what some might tell you about the Voice, it’s a simple idea with a long history that can be plainly laid out and understood by anyone. Here’s exactly what you need to know about what you’ll be voting on and why it matters.
What is a First Nations Voice to Parliament?
A First Nations Voice to Parliament is a group of 24 First Nations people that advise the Federal Government on First Nations issues. That’s literally it.
It’s all in the tone — #VoteYes23 pic.twitter.com/Dqwb6rcI3G
— Dan Ilic 🇦🇺🌸🦘 (@danilic) September 1, 2023
The Voice will be democratically elected every four years and will help whichever government of the day to make decisions pertaining to issues that relate primarily to Indigenous people. This is likely to be things like education, healthcare, and employment.
The Voice is a non-legislative body, meaning that it cannot make or pass laws. Whatever advice it decides to give will have to then be put into action by the government.
“The Voice will not be a third chamber of Parliament. We have addressed this many times since the Turnbull Government first made the claim back in 2017,” Professor Megan Davis, Co-Chair of the Uluru Dialogue and a member of the government’s Constitutional Expert Group, told The Latch,
“The Voice will advise our government of the day on matters concerning the lives of First Nations Peoples. It will not have any hidden powers or veto abilities.”
How Will the Voice Be Organised?
The Voice will have two levels. The first level is a National Voice. The second level consists of Local and Regional Voices.
The National Voice
The National Voice will consist of 24 members:
- Two members from each state and territory.
- Five members from regional Australia.
- Two members from Torres Strait.
- One member representing Torres Strait Islanders on the mainland.
On the national side, there will also be an equal number of male and female members. Each member will serve a single four-year term for a maximum of two terms.
These individuals will be members of one or two permanent advisory groups. One group being disability and the other being youth issues. There will also be a small ethics council that will advise the government on moral issues.
The Local and Regional Voices
The Local and Regional Voices will consist of 35 members. These 35 members will represent 35 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from different areas.
Each of these Voices’ responsibilities will be individually tailored. This will be so they can support their representatives to the best of their availability. Each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is unique, so a one-size-fits-all approach wouldn’t work here.
However, we do know that these Local and Regional Voices won’t be advising just the Federal Government. They’ll be advising every level of government, non-government sectors, and businesses.
It’s also worth noting that these Local and Regional Voices would have a direct line of communication with their National Voice counterparts.
What Will We Be Voting on in the Referendum?
The specific wording of the referendum will be:
“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?”
Voters will then be asked to vote ‘Yes’ if they agree, or ‘No’ if they don’t.
The alteration to the constitution that is mentioned will be:
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
- There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
Voice to Parliament Details
One of the key criticisms of the Voice to Parliament is the idea that there is a lack of detail. The above question contains no specifics on what exactly the Voice will be doing because, frankly, we don’t know.
That’s not a bad thing. If we had no Parliament, as an example, and were voting on whether or not we wanted to create one, understanding the nitty-gritty of what exactly that Parliament would be debating each day would likely just be confusing.
@thelaurendubois What if we replaced “Indigenous” with “women”?
The referendum is not about whether or not we agree with the things the Voice will be advising on, it’s about whether or not we agree with the idea that Indigenous people should be given a say on issues that disproportionally affect them.
“Referendums change the Constitution. And one of the issues that’s being confused is the requirement for detail. Constitutions are for principle, and the parliament is for detail,” Davis said.
How Much Will a Voice to Parliament Cost?
As it stands, a bit over $524 million has been committed to the creation of the Voice.
Prior to the 2023 federal budget, $160 million had been put aside for the Voice. During the budget, it was announced that an extra $364.6 million would be added to the Voice project.
Part of this new $364.6 million has been spent on things like creating the campaign leaflets that have been delivered to all Australian households, boosting mental health spending for Indigenous people during the campaign, and increasing awareness of the Regional Voices.
When Is the Voice Referendum?
Saturday, 14 October is the date of the Voice referendum.
Albanese announced the date at the end of last month, officially kicking off the campaigning that has been not so subtly underway since last year.
“On October 14, you are not being asked to vote for a political party, or for a person. You’re being asked to vote for an idea, to say yes to an idea whose time has come,” Albanese said in announcing the date.
Is It Compulsory to Vote in the Voice Referendum?
The Voice referendum is like any other national vote. It is compulsory to vote in it for those over the age of 18 and any who don’t vote risk being fined.
Just as in national votes, early voting centres will be open two weeks before polling day. We’ll keep you updated on when and where these will be when they are confirmed by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Related: Albanese Wrote to Dutton About a First Nations Voice
Related: A First Nations Voice to Parliament — 80% of Us Want It
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