Voice to Parliament

A First Nations Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution is a key element of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The 2023 referendum for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is on Saturday 14 October 2023.

The referendum question is

A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

The new chapter and section to be added to the constitution are:

Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

S 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

  1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
  2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
  3. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

These cards explain the question and the addition to the constitution. We vote on this on Saturday 14 October.

Click on the image or here to get print files for these cards

What is a referendum

This Australian Electoral Commission  video explains.

Why do we need a First Nations Voice?

A Voice to Parliament will give Indigenous communities a route to help inform policy and legal decisions that impact their lives. Giving people a say will lead to more effective results.

Embedding a Voice  in the Constitution would recognise the special place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s history, but importantly would also mean that it can’t be shut down by successive Governments.

This is important because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and bodies have called for voice for close to 100 years. 

How do we get a First Nations Voice to Parliament?

We need a Referendum. This is a bit like an election, but instead of voting for people to be Members of Parliament, Australia will be asked to answer a simple question – like the one proposed by the Prime Minister – with a YES or a NO.

For a referendum to be successful it requires a majority of voters across the nation and a majority of voters in a majority of states—this is known as a double majority.

What work has been done so far?

The Voice was proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

It was presented to the nation five years ago  on 26 May 2017 by delegates to the First Nations National Constitutional Convention, held over four days near Uluru in Central Australia.

The 250-member convention was held after the 16-member Referendum Council had travelled around the country and met with over 1,200 people.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for, “… the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling about our history.” 

In the five years since the release of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a Joint Select Committee has considered the proposal.

An Indigenous Voice Co-design process outlined, in detail, options for how a Voice could work.  

Further work will continue in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about what will go forward and ultimately the Australian people will be asked to support an Indigenous Voice to Parliament being enshrined in our Constitution

What will be added to the Constitution?

This referendum will give Australians the chance to write a new chapter into our Constitution. This is the new chapter and section: 

Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

S 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

  1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
  2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
  3. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

Guiding principles of the Voice

Senior Counsel and referendum working group member Tony McAvoy outlined the principles to  that might be held about the proposed advisory body.

  1. The Voice will give independent advice to the Parliament and Government
  2. It will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people based on the wishes of local communities
  3. It will be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, gender-balanced and include youth
  4. It will be empowering, community-led, inclusive, respectful and culturally informed
  5. It will be accountable and transparent
  6. It will work alongside existing organisations and traditional structures
  7. It will not have a program delivery function
  8. It will not have a veto power.

See more information on the Voice Design Principles.

Do Australians want change?

Reconciliation Australia’s work consistently shows the public is on board when it comes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people having a say, and that we want governments to step up too.

The Australian Reconciliation Barometer –  our two-yearly survey on attitudes to reconciliation – shows consistent and strong support.

  • 80% of the general Australian community believe the creation of a national representative Indigenous body is important
  • 86% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people believe it is important
  • 79% of general community believe such a body should be protected under the constitution.
  • 87% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people believe such a body should be protected under the constitution.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can no longer see their right to have a say, their right to be heard at the highest levels of law in this country, continue to be a political football tossed between successive governments.

See the growing number of RAP organisations who have come out in support of Voice.

80% of the general community believe it is important to protect an Indigenous Body within the Constitution, so any government can’t remove it.

Common myths and misbeliefs

Right now, there are a number of myths and misconceptions in circulation about the Voice, potentially causing confusion among interested people.

Shelley Reys has created this video for those who want to understand the innate value of a Voice but more specifically, have their concerns addressed with factual information, without judgement.

Play Video about Common myths and concerns about the voice video image

Other sources on myths and disinformation

Multilingual information

Get up to speed with the info below

Check out the links below for resources and information suitable for you and your family, or community and sporting groups, students and workplaces.

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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