During the Garma Festival over the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the three sentences recommended to be added to the constitution to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The Prime Minister also revealed what an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be – A permanent body representing First Nations people that would advise government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy.
The three sentences recommended to be added to the constitution for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament are:
- There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make recommendations to parliament and the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- And the parliament shall, subject to this constitution, have the power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice.
Mr Albanese says the Indigenous Voice will not be a third chamber of parliament.
The question the Australian public might be asked for the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, has also been revealed.
The governments drafted question is:
“do you support an alteration to the constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?”
No date has yet been set for the referendum however two dates have been pushed for by authors of the Uluru Statement from the heart.
May 27th, 2023 – the 56th anniversary of the successful 1967 referendum and January 2024.
