2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum: Difference between revisions
Fixed refs |
→Proposed question and body: Inserted no include element Tag: Reverted |
||
| Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
# The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.<ref name=":8" /> |
# The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.<ref name=":8" /> |
||
</blockquote> |
</blockquote> |
||
<noinclude> |
|||
=== Proposed design of the Voice === |
=== Proposed design of the Voice === |
||
The Australian Government has also released a set of design principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to guide the legislation for the Voice.<ref name=":7" /> Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the principles will "underpin the shape and function of the Voice" and that if the 2023 Australian referendum is successful, then the Government "will establish a process in order for that [legislation] to be worked on, including a parliamentary process which will involve the whole of the Parliament regardless of where people stand to develop that legislation going forward".<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Press Conference - Parliament House {{!}} Prime Minister of Australia |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-parliament-house |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=www.pm.gov.au}} {{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}</ref> |
The Australian Government has also released a set of design principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to guide the legislation for the Voice.<ref name=":7" /> Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the principles will "underpin the shape and function of the Voice" and that if the 2023 Australian referendum is successful, then the Government "will establish a process in order for that [legislation] to be worked on, including a parliamentary process which will involve the whole of the Parliament regardless of where people stand to develop that legislation going forward".<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Press Conference - Parliament House {{!}} Prime Minister of Australia |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-parliament-house |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=www.pm.gov.au}} {{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}</ref> |
||
| Line 100: | Line 100: | ||
* The Voice would be able to make representations about improving programs and services, but it would not manage money or deliver services. |
* The Voice would be able to make representations about improving programs and services, but it would not manage money or deliver services. |
||
'''The Voice will not have a veto power'''<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Voice principles released {{!}} Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice |url=https://voice.niaa.gov.au/news/voice-principles-released |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=voice.niaa.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 2023 |title=Design Principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice |url=https://voice.niaa.gov.au/news/voice-principles-released |publisher=[[National Indigenous Australians Agency]]}}</ref></blockquote> |
'''The Voice will not have a veto power'''<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Voice principles released {{!}} Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice |url=https://voice.niaa.gov.au/news/voice-principles-released |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=voice.niaa.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 2023 |title=Design Principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice |url=https://voice.niaa.gov.au/news/voice-principles-released |publisher=[[National Indigenous Australians Agency]]}}</ref></blockquote></noinclude> |
||
== Electors and referendum mechanisms == |
== Electors and referendum mechanisms == |
||
Revision as of 13:07, 30 March 2023
 | A request that this article title be changed to 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
 | ||
| ||
A Proposed Law to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. | ||
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice |
|---|
| Proposed Australian federal Indigenous advisory body to represent Indigenous communities. |
The 2023 Australian constitutional referendum will ask voters to approve an alteration to the Australian constitution, creating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to represent Indigenous Australians to the parliament and federal government on matters of Indigenous affairs.[1] The referendum, being conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission, will be held in the second half of 2023.[2][3]
The referendum question and proposed alteration were announced on 23 March 2023 by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.[4] The Bill which the referendum enacts is the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 and was tabled in federal parliament on 30 March 2023 by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.[5]
Proposed question and body
| Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of Australia | |
| |
| Territorial extent | Australia |
| Considered by | House of Representatives |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill title | Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 |
| Introduced by | Mark Dreyfus |
| Introduced | 30 March 2023 |
| First reading | 30 March 2023 |
| Second reading | 30 March 2023– |
| Amends | |
| Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act | |
| Status: Pending | |
On 23 March 2023, the Australian Government announced the proposed question and amendment to the constitution for the 2023 Australian referendum.[6] The proposed question and amendment will be considered by the Parliament as part of the parliamentary process to alter the Constitution.
The Australian Government, following advice by the First Nations Referendum Working Group, also released design principles for the Voice.[7] It is stated that these principles will "underpin the shape and function of the Voice" and "then be the basis of the legislation" for the Parliament to consider if the referendum is successful.[8]
Proposed question
The current proposal for the question to be put to the Australian people at the 2023 referendum is:
A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?[8]
Proposed amendment
The current proposal for the amendment to be inserted into the Constitution is:
Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
- There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.[8]
Proposed design of the Voice
The Australian Government has also released a set of design principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to guide the legislation for the Voice.[7] Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the principles will "underpin the shape and function of the Voice" and that if the 2023 Australian referendum is successful, then the Government "will establish a process in order for that [legislation] to be worked on, including a parliamentary process which will involve the whole of the Parliament regardless of where people stand to develop that legislation going forward".[8]
The design principles are that:
The Voice will give independent advice to the Parliament and Government
- The Voice would make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- The Voice would be able to make representations proactively.
- The Voice would be able to respond to requests for representations from the Parliament and the Executive Government.
- The Voice would have its own resources to allow it to research, develop and make representations.
- The Parliament and Executive Government should seek representations in writing from the Voice early in the development of proposed laws and policies.
The Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people based on the wishes of local communities
- Members of the Voice would be selected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, not appointed by the Executive Government.
- Members would serve on the Voice for a fixed period of time, to ensure regular accountability to their communities.
- To ensure cultural legitimacy, the way that members of the Voice are chosen would suit the wishes of local communities and would be determined through the post-referendum process.
The Voice will be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, gender balanced and include youth
- Members of the Voice would be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, according to the standard three part test.
- Members would be chosen from each of the states, territories and the Torres Strait Islands.
- The Voice would have specific remote representatives as well as representation for the mainland Torres Strait Islander population.
- The Voice will have balanced gender representation at the national level.
The Voice will be empowering, community-led, inclusive, respectful and culturally informed
- Members of the Voice would be expected to connect with – and reflect the wishes of – their communities.
- The Voice would consult with grassroots communities and regional entities to ensure its representations are informed by their experience, including the experience of those who have been historically excluded from participation.
The Voice will be accountable and transparent
- The Voice would be subject to standard governance and reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Voice members would fall within the scope of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
- Voice members would be able to be sanctioned or removed for serious misconduct.
The Voice will work alongside existing organisations and traditional structures
- The Voice would respect the work of existing organisations.
The Voice will not have a program delivery function
- The Voice would be able to make representations about improving programs and services, but it would not manage money or deliver services.
Electors and referendum mechanisms
Voters
Australian citizens and some British subjects may take part in Australian elections or referendums. Under Australian law, all eligible voters must submit a vote by an approved means (in-person, by post, or over the phone). It is mandatory for all eligible people to register to vote.[2]
It is mandatory to register to the Australian Electoral Roll and vote if you are:[10][11]
- an Australian citizen, either by birth or naturalisation, or are a British subject who was enrolled to vote before 27 January 1984, and
- aged 18 years or older (on the date of the referendum), and
- have lived at an address for more than one month, and
- not subject to an exemption or exclusion.
Exemptions to mandatory voting requirements apply for those that are overseas on the date of the referendum, are posted to an Australian station on Antarctica, or are homeless or have no fixed address.[12][13][14] A person serving a prison sentence of longer than three years on the date of the referendum is excluded from voting in federal elections or referendums whilst in custody, but must remain on the Electoral Roll.[15]
Funding
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2023) |
See also
References
- ^ Butler, Josh (23 March 2023). "Emotional PM reveals question Australians will be asked for constitutional change on Indigenous recognition". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Referendums". Australian Electoral Commission. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "AEC calling on Australians to deliver a potential Referendum". Australian Electoral Commission. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Constitutional amendment and referendum question announced". National Indigenous Australians Agency. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Dreyfus, Mark (30 March 2023). "Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023". Federal Register of Legislation. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Next Step Towards Voice Referendum: Constitutional Alteration Bill | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ a b c "Voice principles released | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice". voice.niaa.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Press Conference - Parliament House | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ "Design Principles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice". National Indigenous Australians Agency. 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Enrol to vote". Australian Electoral Commission. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "British subjects". Australian Electoral Commission. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Voting from overseas". Australian Electoral Commission. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Workers in Antarctica". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Enrolment for people with no fixed address". Australian Electoral Commission. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Prisoners". Australian Electoral Commission. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
| Federal elections | |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Convention | |
| Referendums | |
