© Reuters. Voters stroll previous Vote ‘Sure’ and Vote ‘No’ indicators on the Outdated Australian Parliament Home, throughout The Voice referendum in Canberra, Australia, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy
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By Praveen Menon
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian Indigenous leaders known as on Sunday for every week of silence and reflection after a referendum to recognise the First Peoples within the structure was decisively rejected by a majority of the inhabitants.
Greater than 60% of Australians voted “No” within the landmark referendum on Saturday, the primary in virtually 1 / 4 of a century, that requested whether or not to change the structure to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island folks by means of the creation of an Indigenous advisory physique , the “Voice to Parliament”, that may advise parliament on issues regarding the group.
The end result is a serious setback for reconciliation efforts with the nation’s Indigenous group, and in addition damages Australia’s picture on the planet concerning the way it treats First Nations folks.
In contrast to different nations with comparable histories akin to Canada and New Zealand, Australia has not but formally recognised or reached a treaty with its First Peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island folks make up 3.8% of Australia’s 26 million inhabitants and have inhabited the nation for about 60,000 years. However they aren’t talked about within the structure and by most socio-economic measures are essentially the most deprived folks within the nation.
“It is a bitter irony. That individuals who have solely been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognise these whose dwelling this land has been for 60,000 and extra years is past purpose,” the leaders mentioned in a press release that was launched on social media platforms.
The leaders mentioned they’d decrease the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag to half-mast for the week and urged others to do the identical.
Australian Indigenous chief and former nationwide rugby union participant Lloyd Walker mentioned the trail to reconciliation appears troublesome now, however the group must preserve preventing.
“We will say it bought out-voted however there was nonetheless 40% of the people who wished it. Years and years in the past we would not have that proportion for positive,” mentioned Walker.
Jade Ritchie, a “Sure” campaigner mentioned after the outcomes on Saturday evening that the entire nation must be grieving the misplaced alternative.
“We had a possibility to make actual change,” she instructed Reuters.
“These gaps, this drawback, this disenfranchisement of an entire portion of our group …. we speak about these items on a regular basis and authorities after authorities attempt to handle these points and right here we’re with a really average and truthful proposal and a sensible means ahead, and it’s not been accepted.”
‘REFLECT HARD’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese staked important political capital on the Voice referendum, however his critics say it was his greatest misstep since coming to energy in Could final 12 months.
Opposition chief Peter Dutton mentioned it was a referendum “that Australia didn’t have to have”, and that it solely ended up dividing the nation.
One of many greatest causes for the referendum loss, nevertheless, was the shortage of bipartisan assist, with leaders of the foremost conservative events campaigning for a “No” vote.
No referendum has handed in Australia with out bipartisan backing.
“A lot can be requested of the function of racism and prejudice towards Indigenous folks on this end result,” leaders mentioned within the assertion.
“The one factor we ask is that every Australian who voted on this election replicate laborious on this query.”