Australia votes 'No' in indigenous rights poll
Australia on Saturday decisively rejected a proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution, in a major setback to the country's efforts for reconciliation with its First Peoples. Nationwide, with 45 percent of the vote counted, the "No" vote led "Yes" by 57.35 percent to 42.65 percent. Australian broadcaster ABC and other TV networks have projected that at least four states – New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia – would vote against altering the 122-year-old constitution. A successful referendum requires at least four of the six states to vote in favour, along with a national majority. Because of Australia's time zones, voting in Western Australia was still under way as it became clear the referendum was lost. Australians had to write "Yes" or "No" on a ballot paper that asked whether they agree to the proposal, which would recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people through the creation of an Indigenous advisory body, the 'Voice to Parliament'. "I'm devastated," Indigenous leader and prominent "Yes" campaigner Thomas Mayo said on ABC News. "We need a Voice. We need that structural change." Australians in Hong Kong were among those participating in the historic vote, with a steady flow of in-person voters at the consulate in Wan Chai on Saturday. The consulate said 2,000 people had cast early votes in the SAR. Most of the people RTHK spoke with said they voted "Yes" to acknowledge the indigenous people in the country's constitution. Voters for the referendum stated that the change will help "unite the country and embrace the First Nations people" and that it is time for the government to "listen for a change.” "I think it's important that we start moving forward and giving Aboriginal people better chances and opportunities in Australia... a yes is not going to fix everything, but it is still a change," said a voter who gave her name as Meg. "This really is important enough to have it in the constitution that whatever government of the day there is, there has to be this kind of body," said a man who gave his name as Adrian. A man named Matt said he cast a No vote, adding that his Aboriginal friends in the SAR are also against the proposal as "it's not speaking for the entirety of all the tribes that are in Australia". "It's a silly point of view because we're supposed to be equal anyway, so why should we have a separate group for Aboriginals when we're supposed to be one country?"_____________________________
Last updated: 2023-10-14 HKT 17:57 