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On Saturday 14 October, Australians will have their say in a Referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia, by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body, and would give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for members of the Voice to be chosen by First Nations peoples based on the wishes of local communities.
To learn more about the Voice, visit https://voice.gov.au/
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Are you still wondering what the Voice to Parliament referendum is about? Come to one of our information sessions to help you make an informed decision on Referendum day – Saturday 14 October.
Campsie Campsie Library and Knowledge Centre 14/28 Amy St, Campsie
Wednesday 11 October, 6-7.30pm - Register here
BankstownBryan Brown Theatre and Function Centre 80 Rickard Rd, Bankstown
Tuesday 10 October, 10-11.30am - Register here
Refreshments will be provided, so you must register.
What is a Referendum and when will it be held?
Before the Government can make a change to the Australian Constitution, a referendum has to be held to seek the approval of Australian voters. On Referendum day (Saturday 14 October), voters will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a single question.
All Australians aged 18 and older must vote in the referendum. If you’re enrolled to vote in a federal election, you don’t need to enrol again to vote in the referendum. To learn more about Referendums, visit https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums
What is the Constitution?
The Australian Constitution is a rule book for everyone in our democracy and protects the people from any one person or institution having too much power. It provides checks and balances on the people and institutions of Government. While the Constitution enables Parliament to create or change laws (legislation), the Constitution itself can only be changed through a vote by the people – a Referendum. To learn more about the Australian Constitution, visit http://www.australianconstitutioncentre.org.au/
What is the history of the Voice?
Australia has been talking about recognising First Nations peoples in the Constitution for more than a decade. The idea has been considered by many people, including through: parliamentary committees; public forums and consultations; constitutional, legal and policy experts; and First Nations leaders and communities.
To learn more about the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, visit https://voice.gov.au/about-voice
How do I find more information about the 'Yes' and 'No' cases?
For more information on each case, click here.
