Australia’s Albanese takes share of blame for Indigenous referendum failure
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he accepted his share of blame for the failure of a referendum question on Indigenous recognition that could weaken his authority. More than 60 per cent of Australians voted “No” in the landmark referendum on Saturday that asked whether to alter the constitution to recognise […]
Australian voters’ divisions, indifference doom Indigenous referendum
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Upbeat polls and big-name endorsements greeted Australia’s referendum campaign for Indigenous reconciliation when it kicked off in earnest just seven months ago, raising hopes for a historic change to the constitution. But by the time votes were counted this weekend in the country’s first referendum in nearly 25 years, the proposal for a […]
Australian Indigenous leaders vow silence after landmark referendum defeat
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australian Indigenous leaders called on Sunday for a week of silence and reflection after a referendum to recognise the First Peoples in the constitution was decisively rejected by a majority of the population. More than 60 per cent of Australians voted “No” in the landmark referendum on Saturday, the first in almost a […]
Voting begins in Australia in landmark Indigenous Voice referendum
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australians began voting on Saturday in a historic referendum, the first in almost a quarter of a century, to decide whether to recognise its First Peoples in the constitution, as requested by the country’s Indigenous leaders six years ago. Australians will simply write “Yes” or “No” on the ballot paper, after a question […]
More Australian sports back Indigenous constitutional recognition
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Twenty Australian sports organisations proclaimed on Friday their backing of a referendum to constitutionally recognise Indigenous people, as the country marked “Sorry Day” when it acknowledges years of injustices to Aboriginal people. Sports including cricket, golf, motorsport, netball and badminton pledged support for a proposed “Voice to Parliament”, a consultative committee that would […]
Australia promises national vote on recognition of Indigenous people by 2022
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia will hold a national vote within three years on whether to include recognition of Indigenous people in its constitution, the government said on Wednesday, an issue that has spurred decades of often heated debate. Australia has struggled to reconcile with descendants of its first inhabitants, who arrived on the continent about 50,000 […]