Monday briefing: How Australia voted down a historic plan to boost Indigenous rights

Vote No volunteers at a polling centre on October 13, 2023 in Canberra, Australia. Photograph: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Good morning. Over the weekend Australia voted no in its Indigenous voice to parliament referendum that would have recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution and created an advisory group of Indigenous representatives. The government would have then consulted that group on issues affecting their communities.

However, Australians voted more than 60% against the proposed law to “recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice”.