Referendum on an Aboriginal 'voice' in Australia: the 'no' camp accused of polarising society

Australia is due to vote in October in a referendum on the creation of a new council, enshrined in the Constitution, the Aboriginal "voice", which will be asked to give opinions to Parliament and the government. Faced with declining support for this reform in the latest polls, Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney went to defend it in front of journalists.

Aboriginal ceremony held in Sydney, July 6, 2015 (Illustration image). AFP - PETER PARKS

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With our correspondent in Sydney, Grégory Plesse

Giving Aboriginal people a voice and constitutional recognition at the same time is the first commitment made by the Labour government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra. But, while 70% of Australians were in favour of it in the aftermath of last year's election, they are now, according to a latest poll, less than one in two.

For Minister Linda Burney, if the "yes" camp is crumbling, it is primarily because of the methods used by the supporters of the "no". "They import Trump-style politics to Australia. They are in the post-truth and their goal is to polarize, to create divisions in our society, by making false allegations," she said.

Catching up with centuries of injustice

These opponents, from the Australian right and far right, lend this Aboriginal "voice" powers that it will not have. It will be a mere consultative body, with no right of veto. The supporters of the "yes" vote, rather discreet until then, began this week a series of events across the country. They intend to beat the pavement and the campaign until the day of the vote.

In mid-June, the Australian Senate gave the green light to hold a referendum to give Aboriginal people a "voice" in Parliament. This law, approved by 52 votes to 19, will allow Labour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to set a date for the referendum to revise the Constitution.

Anthony Albanese's government believes Australians have an opportunity to make up for centuries of injustice against Aboriginal people and give them a voice in decision-making. If passed, Aboriginal Australians, whose ancestors have lived on the continent for at least 60,000 years, will be recognised for the first time in the Constitution, and will have the right to be consulted by the government on laws that impact their communities.

" READ ALSO The Australian Prime Minister pushes to give an official voice to the aborigines

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