Australia to hold referendum on Indigenous ‘Voice’ in 2023
Australians will decide next year if the country's constitution will be changed to give an institutional voice to the long-suffering Indigenous population, the government said yesterday.
The proposed "Voice to Parliament" aims to give Indigenous Australians a greater say in national policy-making, as they battle poorer health, lower incomes and higher barriers to education.
Indigenous Australians are not currently mentioned in the country's constitution -- adopted in 1901 -- and any move to change that is politically contentious.
Australia's centre-left government was elected in May and had promised to hold a referendum on the issue -- but until now has shied away from setting a date.
Speaking at a folk festival in the state of Queensland later on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will say the vote will be held "next year", according to prepared remarks released by his government.
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