Support for the inclusion of an Indigenous advisory panel in Australia's constitution has dipped further, a poll showed on Monday, putting the landmark proposal on track for defeat ahead of a national vote next month.

Since Australian independence in 1901, only eight of the 44 proposals for constitutional change have been approved.

Support has slid to 43% in the latest survey, down from 46% in August with voters in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia’s most populous states, shifting against the proposal.

The ‘No’ vote is strongest in Queensland and Western Australia with 61% set to reject the Voice.

The referendum debate has divided opinions with supporters arguing the Voice will bring progress for the Aboriginal community, recognise the 65,000 year-old culture and “unite the nation”. Opponents say it would be divisive and hand excessive powers to the body, while others have described it as tokenism and toothless.

Making up about 3.2% of Australia’s near 26 million population, the Aboriginal people were marginalised by British colonial rulers and are not mentioned in the 122-year-old constitution.

  • broadacre_farmer@lemmy.world
    73·
    1 year ago

    It’s been bungled pretty badly by the yes side, when you can’t actually say exactly what you want to change in our constitution it’s not a great sign of a decent change. If they could say exactly what they wanted to change (assuming it was reasonable) and Labor explained exactly what policy they wanted to back it up with I think they’d convince a lot of conservative Australians to vote yes as well. As it stands it isn’t likely to get through, I haven’t talked to an indigenous person who is going to vote yes for it yet either.

    I also find it a bit ironic that Tasmania, the state that practically wiped out it’s indigenous population that they’re most in support of it.