The 2023 Australian Referendum: a proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and Government

On October 14, 2023, Australian electors voted in a referendum regarding a proposal to change the Constitution by explicitly recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the insertion of a Voice to Parliament and Government. A majority of electors in each State voted against the change, as did a majority of electors nationally. Therefore, the referendum failed. This article explains the proposal from a public law perspective and includes brief reflections regarding the public debate surrounding the referendum