The Voice: Australians reject the measure in a landmark referendum

In a referendum, Australia overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to provide Indigenous people more political rights.

A proposal to modify the constitution to recognise First Nations people and establish a body for them to advise the government was rejected by all six states.

Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, stated that losing was difficult: “When you aspire high, sometimes you fall short. We recognise and value what we have.

Peter Dutton, the head of the opposition, deemed the outcome “good for our country.”

The “The Voice” referendum was the country’s first in nearly 25 years. When most votes had been tallied, the “No” vote had a 60% to 40% advantage over the “Yes” vote.

Its denial came after a contentious and frequently divisive campaign.

The inclusion of Indigenous peoples in the constitution, according to supporters, would bind Australia and bring in a new age.

No leaders objected on the grounds that it would divide society, create distinct “classes” of individuals who were less equal than others, and slow down government decision-making with the creation of a new advisory council.

They received criticism for using a “Don’t know? accusing them of organising a campaign based on false information regarding the implications of the plan and spreading a “vote no” message.

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As a result, Mr. Albanese is now looking for a way to implement his vision for the country while a revitalised opposition is eager to seize the opportunity presented by its triumph.

The prime minister expressed his respect for the vote and “the democratic process that has delivered it” in his speech to the nation.

“This point of contention does not define us and will not separate us; we are all Australians, whether we voted yes or no. Together, Australians must move our nation past this discussion without losing sight of the reasons it began in the first place.

“Too often in the life of our nation, the disadvantage confronting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been relegated to the margins, this referendum and my government has put it right at the centre.”

Australia “did not need to have” such a poll, Mr. Dutton claimed after the outcome, “What we’ve seen tonight is Australians in their millions reject the prime minister’s divisive referendum.”

Warren Mundine, a leading opponent of the referendum and a Bundjalung man, stated: “This is a referendum that we should have never had because it was built on the lie that Aboriginal people do not have a voice.”

Some members of the Yes camp could see the destruction.

“We have witnessed a revolting display of our Indigenous leadership putting themselves out there for this,” According to Yes supporter Thomas Mayo, “There has never been a campaign that has been dishonest or that has lied to the Australian people.”

The Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man continued, “I’m not criticising the Australian people in any way; who I do blame are those who lied to them.

BBC

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