Australia Rejects Indigenous Voice to Parliament in Historic Referendum

Australians voted against a constitutional amendment that would have recognized Indigenous peoples and provided them with an advisory body to Parliament. The defeat was a blow to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who saw the referendum as an opportunity to address Australia's colonial and racist past. The opposition successfully stirred fears over the proposal's consequences, leading to its defeat. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the role of misinformation and vowed to continue efforts to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. Referendums in Australia require a "double majority" and the result was out of reach within 90 minutes of the first polls closing. Indigenous people have lived in Australia for thousands of years but have not been recognized with a treaty.