Australians will go to the polls to decide whether to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution on October 14.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the date for the country's first referendum in 24 years in a speech in Adelaide on Wednesday.
What is the proposed change?
At the referendum on October 14, Australians will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' whether to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice.
The Bill proposes to add a new Chapter IX, "Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples", at the end of the constitution.
The proposed chapter will hold a new section 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."
How would the voice work?
The government has set down some broad parameters, but it will be up to the federal parliament to determine how it works and its structures, within the framework of the constitutional change.
It would be an independent and permanent advisory body.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for the voice to be representative of First Nations peoples from across Australia, be gender balanced and involve young people.
The voice would give advice to the Australian parliament and government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The intention is for the voice to work alongside existing groups and organisations. It would be accountable and transparent.
The 'yes' case
Voting 'yes' is about:
- Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our constitution and paying respect to 65,000 years of culture and tradition.
- * Listening to advice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about matters that affect their lives, so governments make better decisions.
- Making practical progress in Indigenous health, education, employment and housing, so people have a better life.
- Respecting an idea that comes directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- There are big challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including: a life expectancy eight years shorter than non-Indigenous Australians; worse rates of disease and infant mortality; a suicide rate twice as high; fewer opportunities for education and training.
The 'no' case
It risks legal challenges, delays and dysfunctional government. The specific coverage of all areas of "executive government" means no issue is beyond the reach of the voice.
No details have been provided on how members of the voice would be chosen or how it would operate. Australians should have details before the vote, not after. And there is the prospect of future steps including reparations and compensation.
Enshrining a voice in the constitution for only one group of Australians means permanently dividing the country, creating different classes of citizenship through an unknown body that has the full force of the constitution behind it.
Putting a voice in the constitution means it's permanent and the country will be stuck with any negative consequences.
What's next?
Early voting starts on October 2. However, because of the public holiday in ACT, SA, NSW and Queensland the first day of early voting will be October 3.
Postal voting details will be available soon.
