The Aborigines and islanders of the Torres Strait, a string of islands located between Australia and New Guinea, will they finally be recognized as the first peoples of a continent they have inhabited for more than 65,000 years, making of them the oldest known civilization on Earth? Will they have a formal voice in political and legal matters that affect them? Australian voters will be called upon to say “yes” or “no” to their constitutional recognition through the creation of an advisory body, during a referendum to be held on October 14.
“Every Australian will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite our country and change it for the better”Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pleaded on Wednesday August 30 during a meeting organized in Adelaide to announce the date of the consultation. “Voting ‘no’ gets you nowhere, it means nothing changes. Voting “no” closes the door to this opportunity to move forward”he said again, urging his country to “rise to the occasion” : “Don’t close the door on the next generation of Aboriginal Australians. »
The Labor elected official had undertaken, during the 2019 electoral campaign, to organize this referendum demanded by the indigenous populations since May 26, 2017. On that day, 270 delegates had signed the Uluru declaration, the fruit of a long process of dialogue and consultation within their communities. “We want constitutional reforms that give power to our people and our rightful place in our own country. When we can manage our destiny, our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift for their country.they said in this document, which the Conservative government of the time did not follow up on.
“Being at the table” of discussions
The referendum proposal takes up one of the main demands of this declaration. It provides for the establishment of a ” voice “, a representative body responsible for advising the legislative and executive power on all matters concerning the first peoples, whether social, economic or spiritual. Its opinion will not be binding, but the authorities hope that it will make a difference in the fight against inequalities. Aborigines, who represent less than 4% of Australians, live, for many, in a fourth world where they have difficulty accessing essential services and where their children are more likely to end up behind bars than on the benches. ‘a university.
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