Australia’s Senate on Monday voted in favour of holding a referendum to alter the country’s constitution to recognise its Indigenous peoples.
The referendum would seek support to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice within parliament, which would in future advise the government on issues affecting those communities.
The referendum would take place before the end of 2023.According to local media, the vote is likely to be held in October.
On Monday, the Senate passed the bill with 52 votes for and 19 against confirming the wording of the constitutional change to be put in the referendum.
It said the lower house of Parliament passed the draft legislation in May.
Applause broke out in the Senate chamber after the vote.
“One step closer to giving a voice to needs and aspirations of Indigenous Australians,’’ Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney told a media conference on Monday.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted, “together, we can make history by enshrining recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our constitution.’’
He has been campaigning in favour of the voice referendum since winning the May 2022 election.
A double majority was needed to make a constitutional change possible.
According to the Australian Electoral Commission, that meant there must be more than a 50 per cent “Yes’’ vote overall.
And also at least four of Australia’s six states must return a majority yes vote.
It was not until May 1967 that Australians voted to change the Constitution so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population. (dpa/NAN)