Title: Australians Set to Reject Proposal to Recognize Indigenous People in Referendum: Poll
Subtitle: Final opinion poll shows ‘No’ vote leading ahead of the historic referendum
SYDNEY, Oct 12 – The latest opinion poll ahead of the upcoming referendum in Australia indicates that the majority of Australians are likely to reject a proposal to constitutionally recognize the country’s Indigenous people. The poll, conducted by YouGov, shows that supporters of the ‘No’ vote lead the ‘Yes’ camp by a significant margin.
Australians will be voting on whether to amend the 122-year-old constitution to officially recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and establish a body known as the Voice to Parliament, which would advise the government on Indigenous matters.
With less than two days remaining until the voting day on Oct. 14, the poll reveals that 56% of those surveyed are opposed to the proposal, while only 38% support it. The remaining 6% of respondents were undecided. YouGov’s poll included 1,519 voters.
“Our final poll indicates a sweeping ‘No’ victory – with nearly six in 10 voters intending to cast a ‘No’ vote,” stated Amir Daftari, Director of Polling and Academic Research at YouGov.
According to the analysis, it is highly unlikely that the ‘Yes’ vote will prevail in any region except for a few inner metropolitan areas.
The poll also highlighted the division among age groups, revealing that young voters were more likely to support the proposal, while older voters leaned towards the ‘No’ camp.
The Indigenous population in Australia, which represents approximately 3.8% of the country’s 26 million people, traces its history back about 60,000 years. However, they are not currently mentioned in the constitution and face socio-economic disparities compared to the national averages.
Support for the referendum has declined in recent months. Proponents argue that the Voice to Parliament would bring progress for Indigenous Australians, while opponents express concerns about the potential divisiveness of enshrining one group in the constitution.
Critics of the proposed Voice have labeled it as tokenism and ineffective.
Australia has a history of difficulty in passing referendums, with only eight out of the total being approved since the country’s establishment in 1901.
For constitutional change to occur, a majority of votes is required nationwide and in at least four out of the six states.
The referendum will be a significant milestone in Australia’s relationship with its Indigenous population, as it seeks to address historical injustices and provide a constitutionally recognized platform for Indigenous voices.
Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Stephen Coates