AUSTRALIA: A recent newspaper poll in Australia has found that over 50% of respondents would oppose the incorporation of an Indigenous advisory panel into the country’s constitution.
This comes as the government faces challenges in garnering support for this significant proposal ahead of an upcoming referendum on October 14.
The poll, conducted by The Australian newspaper, indicates that support for a “Voice to Parliament,” which would establish an Indigenous advisory body for parliamentary matters, has decreased, with only 38% of voters expressing support and about 53% opposing the idea.
To amend the Australian constitution, a referendum must secure a majority of votes at the national level and a majority in at least four out of six states.
Since Australia gained independence in 1901, only eight out of 44 proposals for constitutional changes have successfully passed.
The center-left Labor government is facing increasing pressure to improve its communication strategy as support for the referendum continues to decline in public opinion polls.
Additionally, the poll revealed that Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings, who has placed significant political capital on the referendum, have gone negative for the first time since becoming prime minister last year.
While the Labor Party maintains a lead of 53% to 47% in two-party preference, support for the conservative coalition opposition has reached its highest level since the May 2022 election.
Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition, faced criticism for suggesting that if the Voice referendum failed, he would hold another referendum on Indigenous recognition but would not back a body established in the constitution.
These findings indicate a complex landscape for the upcoming referendum on Indigenous representation in the constitution and highlight the need for effective communication and engagement with the public in the lead-up to the vote.
Also Read: Historic Indigenous Voice Referendum Scheduled for October in Australia
