Voice to Parliament
Why is this important?
First Peoples Voice to Parliament is the first reform called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
This is a constitutionally enshrined body of First Nations People with a direct line to Federal Parliament, able to influence laws and policies that affect First Nations communities. A constitutional Voice is both symbolic and substantive recognition.
Read Reconciliation Victoria’s Position Statement on the Voice to Parliament.
Voice Referendum Events
See upcoming Rec Vic, Local Reconciliation Group and community events on our Voice events page.
Links and Resources
Click on each tab for a range of resources on a First Nations Voice to Parliament and upcoming referendum.
- Walk for Yes marches draw big numbers across Australia | ABC News (17 Sept 2023)
- Referendum Date Announcement 14 October | Guardian Australia (30 Aug 2023)
- Australian Electoral Commission releases Yes/No pamphlets | AEC (17 July 2023)
- Parliament passes constitutional alteration bill | Voice Gov (19 June 2023)
- Wathaurung Aboriginal Co-operative supports First Nations Voice to Parliament | ( 27 May 2023)
- Voice Referendum question announced | ABC News (23 March 2023)
- South Australia enacts First Nations Voice to Parliament | State Government South Australia (26 March 2023)
- Community sector groups launch coalition in support of the Voice | Reconciliation Victoria (28 Feb 2023)
- Australian Reconciliation Organisations support the Voice | (18 Feb 2023)
Podcasts
- Referendum Tapes '23 | Victorian Aboriginal News
- Voice Referendum Explained | ABC News Podcast
Fact Sheet and Guides
- Voice to Parliament Fact Sheet (1 Page) | Life Without Barriers
- Plain English Fact Sheet (1 page) | Life Without Barriers
- Referendum Question and Constitutional amendment (1 page) | Voice Gov
- Guide to Talking about the Voice (2 pages) | Yes 23
- Voice FAQs Booklet | Victorian Trades Hall Council
- Uluru Statement from the Heart: Easy Read Guide | First Nations Disability Network
- FAQs on the Voice | Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
- The Voice Referendum FAQs | Federation of Traditional Owner Corporations
- Voice Referendum Facts and FAQs | Multicultural Australia for Voice
- Community Toolkits and Resources | Voice Gov
- Voice Crosscheck | RMIT University FactLab
Translated Resources
- Uluru Statement Translated | Uluru Dialogue Group
- 45 Translated Language Fact Sheets | Life Without Barriers
- 35 Translate Government Information | Voice Gov
- Yes23 Translated Guides
- Uluru Dialogue Group
- Yes 23 Campaign
- Allies for Uluru Coalition | ANTaR
- Multicultural Australia for Yes
- Kitchen Table Conversations
- Together Yes | Victorian Women's Trust
- Victorian Trades Hall Council | Voice Campaign
- Voice From the Heart Alliance
- The Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues: Voice to Parliament Special Edition
- Understanding the Voice from a Human Rights Perspective | Australian Human Rights Commission
- Indigenous Voice Co-design Process: Final Report | National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Area of Focus: Uluru Statement from the Heart | National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Information Booklet: Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples through a Voice | National Indigenous Australia Agency
- The Voice referendum: how did we get here and where are we going? | UNSW Law Journal
- Uluru Statement: A Quick Guide | Australian Parliament House
- The Voice Referendum FAQs | Federation of Traditional Owner Corporations
- YouGov Poll | NITV Article, May 2023
- Voice to Parliament Polling 2023 | Essential Research (Ongoing)
- Indigenous people 80% for the Voice: Poll | Uluru Dialogue (Jan 2023)
- Australian Reconciliation Barometer 2022 | Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Victoria
- Voice Position Statement
- Referendum date announcement press release | 30 Aug 2023
- Webinar: Voice to Parliament with Rueben Berg | 18 Aug 2023
Safety
- eSafety First Nations | Digital safety for First Peoples
Australian Electoral Commission
What is a Voice to Parliament?
The Uluru Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples issued to all Australians on 27 May 2017. It calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations Peoples and the Australian population.
The Uluru Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples issued to all Australians on 27 May 2017. It calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations Peoples and the Australian population.
The statement calls for two substantive changes:
Voice and Makarrata.
- Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution.
- A Makarrata Commission to supervise:
1. Agreement making.
2. Truth-telling about our history.
The Uluru Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples issued to all Australians on 27 May 2017. It calls for legal and structural reforms to reshape the relationship between First Nations Peoples and the Australian population.
How will a voice to Parliament work and strengthen First Nations communities?
A Voice will mean the commonwealth government will have better quality information about First Nations communities and issues, delivered directly by First Nations Peoples themselves.
Australian reconciliation peak organisations strongly support the Voice.
Reconciliation Victoria, alongside peak reconciliation organisations across the nation have aligned in strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
Read the Australian Reconciliation Network (ARN) joint statement here.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart
Learn more about the Uluru Statement via Uluru Dialogue Group.
View or listen to the translated Supporter Toolkits in 64 CALD Languages and 20 Aboriginal languages.
Voice Referendum Date: 14 October
The Voice to Parliament referendum will be held on Saturday 14 October.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the official date for the referendum when Australians will cast their vote on whether to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
On referendum day, voters will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a single question.
The question on the ballot paper will be:
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
Find out more on the Referendum question and constitutional amendment.
Voice Referendum Events
See Rec Vic, Local Reconciliation Group and community events on our Voice events page.
View highlights from past events below.
Support for the Voice to Parliament
Reconciliation Australia Barometer
Reconciliation Australia has released the 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer (ARB), a biennial national research survey which looks at the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider population, and how perceptions affect progress towards reconciliation.
When it comes to the key proposals for a First Nations Voice to Parliament, Australians widely believe the reforms are important, including 60% in the general community who think giving First Nations people a say is very important. However, it is notable that sentiments have softened regarding a Voice and Truth-telling, since 2020.
The vast majority also think it’s important for Constitutional changes to establish a First Nations representative Body and to protect that Body. And, most Australians (69%) believe such reconciliation efforts are the responsibility of all Australians (page 2).
80% support for the Voice: Uluru Dialogue
Uluru Dialogue Group, the peak First Nations body backing the Voice to Parliament, released a report on 27 January 2023, indicating 80 percent of First Nations people back the Voice to Parliament.
The poll, conducted by market research company IPSOS, found 80 per cent of First Nations people would vote yes in a referendum with a further one-in-10 undecided. Only 10 per cent said they did not support the Voice.
The poll also found First Nations supporters of the Voice were confident in that support, with three quarters of yes voters ‘very sure’ about their decision, with the remaining ‘fairly sure’.
Alyawarre woman and Uluru Dialogue co-chair Pat Anderson said the research confirmed the campaign for a First Nations Voice reflected the views of most Traditional Owners as a chance to improve outcomes for First Nations communities.
The poll was conducted from January 20 to 24 2023 and surveyed 300 First Nations people around Australia.
