Vote Compass data finds most Australians support Indigenous Voice to Parliament — and it has grown since the last election
New data shows three quarters of Australians agree it's time for a referendum to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament — but not all the major parties do. Support for a referendum to create a Voice to Parliament has increased since the last election. according to Vote Compass data Indigenous leaders have called on the government to hold a referendum within the next two years. either in May 2023 or January 2024 The Coalition does not support a referendum to create a Voice. but Labor has said it would like to see it progress in the first term if it won government Vote Compass asked whether Australia should amend its constitution to establish a representative body or 'Voice' to advise Parliament on laws and policies affecting Indigenous peoples. There was clear support for the idea — overall 73 per cent of Australians agreed ''strongly' or 'somewhat' that there should be constitutional change to give Indigenous Australians a greater say over their lives. The push for a referendum was released as part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. written in Central Australia at an historic gathering five years ago this month. Pitjantjatjara woman Sally Scales was at Uluṟu in 2017. She said there has been growing support for a Voice since then. 'That was the smart thing about the Uluru statement. it wasn't gifted to the politicians.' she said. 'It was gifted to every Australian to say: This is our message and we need you to walk with us.' They called on the next Australian government to hold a referendum within the next two years. either in May 2023. or January 2024. What do Australians think? Since the last election in 2019. Vote Compass data has shown support for an Indigenous Voice in Parliament appears to be growing. Overall. in 2019. 64 per cent of voters supported the push for a referendum ahead of the last election. In the latest survey ahead of this year's election. 73 per cent supported the move. Answers to the proposition: 'Australia should amend its constitution to establish a representative Indigenous body to advise Parliament on laws and policies affecting Indigenous peoples' compared in 2019 and 2022. 'More and more Australians are understanding the issues involved when it comes to constitutional recognition of our First Nations people.' Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine said. Labor voters are significantly more likely than Liberal National voters to back a Voice. with 82 per cent supportive of a potential referendum. Vote Compass data suggests Coalition voters are divided on the issue. with 43 per cent of voters supportive of changing the constitution. while 38 per cent are opposed. The data reveals support among both groups of voters has risen over the past three years. Greens voters continue to be the party most supportive of the concept. with 92 per cent backing it. Answers to the proposition: 'Australia should amend its constitution to establish a representative Indigenous body to advise Parliament on laws and policies affecting Indigenous peoples' by voting intention. How would it work? The Voice would be an Indigenous representative body which would advise lawmakers on issues affecting First Nations people. Read more In 2017. the former Referendum Council said the concept 'appealed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities because of the history of poor or nonexistent consultation with communities by the Commonwealth.' It is not clear exactly what a Voice to Parliament would look like. or how many people it would elect. It would have a huge task to distil the concerns of hundreds of Indigenous nations and clans across Australia. But there are common issues it could advise on. across multiple communities. including high incarceration rates. underemployment and access to better healthcare. How did we get here? For decades there has been debate over proposals to change the constitution to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people more respect and...
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